Hello fellow dreamers..
I just wanted to drop a Thursday update on what is going on and the strange, wonderful things I find all over the net.
Reality has been kicking my butt lately and I am getting a little sick of it. I have been working on several projects....
Projects you say. Yes, projects. Several stories are in the works and I have been very pleased with their progress even though it has been moving slowly. I have had an idea for a serial killer story, much in the vein of Dexter. I believe I have changed it up enough so it will have my own twisted blend to the idea. It is just about finished and will be displayed soon for your viewing pleasure.
The story "Weeping" was a fun story to write. The idea of vampire secret police was a interesting one and something I may want to take further. I am half way through on writing a second story about Adam Flare. Once I feel good about it, you guys and ghouls shall see it.
I do have a novel that is half finished. I haven't worked on it for a long while but I have been re-reading it. The story is still holding in my mind and it looks like I may continue on with it. Nothing is set in stone but it has possibilities.
Drinks Tonight! will have future entries. I had a lot of fun writing the interview with Bacardi Rum. I will try a few more and see if it is something I will continue. Maybe I will even put together some mock video interviews with future drinks. Time will tell.
This blew my mind.
I may have to play DC universe just because of the trailer.
And finally, I am big 300 and Godzilla fan. I cant believe someone put two of my favorite things together.
Godzilla 300
Enjoy!
~Julian
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Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Metal Gear....
I tend to visit Halforums pretty regularly. They created a thread about Metal Gear, wanting people to just say it in their best Solid Snake voice. You can view the thread here.
I decided to join in with a little help from Novabelle. Here is the end result.
~Julian
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I decided to join in with a little help from Novabelle. Here is the end result.
~Julian
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Saturday, July 24, 2010
Drinks Tonight! Bacardi Rum.
This place has been a little too much about art and not enough on fun. I, Julian Ravage, have decided to spice this place up a little. Once or twice a week, depending on my mood and how messed up from hang overs, I will conduct an interview with beers, liquor and assortment of alcohols.
Today, We will Q & A with everyone's favorite rum, Bacardi!
Q: Tell us about your youth?
A: (In a heavy Spanish accent) I started out like anyone else. You work one party and everyone there has such a good time, you get invited to other parties. Soon you start working the circuit. I was intoxicated on people cheering for you when you walk through the door.
Q: How heavy did the parties get?
A: They became a force of nature on their own. You start getting involved in all sorts of crowds.
Q: Like pirates?
A: Some people look at the bad things they did in their youth. I do not. I see them as experiences to be treasured. Sure someone may have used me to smash into someones skull. I was still growing. Trying to find my way.
Q: Did any good come out of your youth?
A: Yes, I believe so. I brought together many people in singing and dancing. So many parties to celebrate life. Some times I feel that is one of my purposes, to bring people together.
Q: There was time you were in politics in the Caribbean. What was it like?
A: It was simply a game of numbers. The more politicians gave me out, the more votes they received. I wanted to make people happy but it had become an ugly business. I was happy to get out of the game when restrictions came into play.
Q: When you mix rum with a weak beer or water, you create grog. Tell us about grog?
A: I will not speak of that bastard child. He is no son of mine!
Q: On a lighter note, how was working on Pirates of the Caribbean?
A: A splendid time in my career. The cast and crew were wonderful people to party with. Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are amazing actors. All three movies were a special time. I was recently contacted by the studios. They want me back for the fourth movie. I told them I would clear my schedule.
Q: You have an upcoming movie, the Rum Diaries. How does it feel to star in a major motion picture?
A: Overwhelming. It can be very demanding to act and continue to bring such a high degree of party to the world. I took acting lessons and lost about thirty pounds for the role. The director took a lot of my input in making the film. They wanted everything to be just right. We would spend the evening talking and laughing. We hope it simply adds to the party.
I want to thank you Bacardi for coming out and spending time with us at Drinks Tonight!
Bacardi: It was a pleasure Julian.
And now for some photo ops.
~Julian
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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Lich and the Ruby
I have always been a fan of Order of the Stick. It is one of those web comics that have a wonderful blend of humor, action and Dungeons and Dragons. The jokes always remind me when I used to play D&D in my youth and bring back happy memories.
The characters are interesting without being over the top. I don't normally right fan fiction but this was a special case. I wanted to see a grittier version of the characters and the world. I had written this story some time back but I have re-read it a few times and I believe it holds up. Enjoy.
***
The Lich and the Ruby
By Julian Ravage
Roy wiped the sweat off his brow. His lungs hurt and body ached. He had been practicing all day and it was wearing him down. The sky swirled in darkness as he ran through his stances and strikes once more. Roy’s body moved into a thrusting stance and his heel slipped on a loose stone. He caught himself and nearly dropped his sword. Curses poured from his mouth. Time was not being kind to him and he could feel it with every passing day.
There was a glint of light in the distance. Roy squinted and could see a lone figure running toward him from the distance. Red lighting flashed and lit up the sky. Elan crossed the distance in minutes. He fell to his knees when he reached Roy, trying to catch his breath. Roy helped his friend up and tried to keep the concern from his eyes. Elan looked like a shell of a man. His eyes were sunken in, face scarred and hair had turned a ghostly white.
“No goblins. No soldiers. There is nothing in the valley. Xykon is just standing right in the middle like a statue.” Elan huffed.
“He is waiting for us?” Roy took out his canteen and passed it to Elan.
“I don’t know.” Elan took a gulp of water. “I don’t know anything anymore.”
“We will do this. We will stop this.” Roy tried to sound positive.
“Does it matter? Xykon already won.”
“When Durkon gets back, we will rest and strike tomorrow.”
Elan pushed white hair away from his face. He wanted tears to roll down his face once more like a waterfall during spring time. But the rivers of love which flowed through him dried up a long time ago. He lay down on his sleeping bag and tried to gain some rest for the worthless battle ahead of him.
***
Belkar fiddled with a ruby as the group tried to make sense of the current plan. The rest of the group huddled around a large oak table with a map pinned to it. Elan tried to pick up one of the little metal pieces but Roy smacked the back of his hand. Elan put it back down with a sad look.
“It doesn’t make sense Roy. Why would Xykon push his forces pass the Hellfire Volcano? Either he is going to split his forces to attack two different cities or he is trying to confuse us.” Haley reasoned.
“Aye, the lass is right. Xykon knows we have a large enough army to push him back.” Durkon took a swig of mead.
“He hasn’t moved in two days. I think he is preparing. If we attack in the morning, we might upset his plans. If we can cover both routes, we can push his goblins back into the volcano.”
Elan took Haley’s hand into his and gave it a light squeeze. “Roy, do you feel it’s going to work?”
Roy looked into Elan’s eyes and nodded.
Elan smiled. “Then I’m in!”
Images swirled into chaos. Darkness and red splashed onto Elan’s face as he opened his eyes into a nightmare. Haley was letting loose arrow after arrow into the horde. Durkon’s hammer smashed goblin skull after goblin skull. Roy was a mad man in battle, his sword slicing through monsters like water. Belkar was no where to be seen. Elan ducked and dodged incoming blades and arrows. He moved like a dancer through the enemy. His blade taking down every creature that stood too close. Despite all their skills, the battle was going badly.
Roy shouted to Haley. She nodded and reached for a red arrow from her quiver. Elan kept moving. Like a whirlwind, he drove back any creature close to Haley. The battle grew more intense as Xykon moved through his ranks. His power had grown to such a degree once he channeled the Snarl. Red lighting flashed with every step he took and the ground shook like the earth would fly apart at any moment.
Haley aimed at Xykon. It was easy, his body crackled with red energy. His undead body was generating so much heat; monsters would burst into flames if they stood too close. Time seemed to slow down just for this one point.
The red arrow Haley aimed was fused from fallen god blood. Should it strike another god, the explosion would be enough to destroy everything for a hundred miles in every direction. They all knew going in, this would mean the end of them but it was sacrifice most of them would make.
Haley’s muscles tensed. Her hand started to bleed from holding the arrow back. Roy, Elan and Durkon stood their ground with thousands of soldiers who volunteered. Their bodies acted like a wall against the horde of creatures trying to kill one woman with an arrow that slays gods.
Haley let out a breath and let the arrow fly. It darted across the sky. Elan slashed a goblin and as the creature’s body fell, Elan could see a red streak across the sky as the arrow reached Xykon. He smiled as the arrow struck home and exploded. Elan’s body relaxed. He stared at Haley and for a moment waited for the explosion to take their lives.
The explosion never came.
Elan looked and stared in horror as Xykon held the energy in a pillar of darkness. The explosion flowed like a river and shot skyward. There was a bright flash. Elan shielded his eyes. Xykon laughed and his energy started to glow and strike in all directions. Soldiers were thrown like rag dolls. Roy stood steadfast as an energy bolt struck him. His body didn’t even shake but blood poured down his arm.
Elan tried to fight through the melee to get to Haley. They had to get out of there. They had to retreat. Xykon was going to kill them all. Haley had her jaw clenched as she started to swing arrows out of her quiver and let them loose.
“Haley!” Elan shouted.
Xykon took notice and turned his glowing red eyes on Haley. His skeletal hands opened and energy began to pour. The volcano behind Xykon began to rumble and a torrent of lava shot up into the sky.
“NO!” Elan screamed.
The lava swirled like a living serpent in the sky. The end formed into a dragon head and pointed its gaze at Haley. It streamed down in a blink of an eye. Xykon continued to laugh as the sky filled with molten lava. A large shard of lava fell from the sky toward Haley. Her eyes turned to Elan. Elan could see fear grip her. He tried to push toward her. A goblin hammer glanced off his head. Élan went into a spin and hit the ground. A kobold jumped on the fallen Elan and started stabbing at his face and neck. A fist wrapped around the creature’s neck and broke it with a squeeze. Elan looked up and saw Haley on the ground, with Belkar lying next to her. His body was steaming and burnt. Durkon threw the dead kobold away and helped Elan up.
“I cannea` believe it! Belkar saved Haley. He knocked her out of the way before the lava could hit her!”
Elan ran to Haley. She wrapped her arms around him as he helped her up. They both turned to Belkar as he lay on the ground smoking. When they drew close they could see he was missing an arm and his body was badly burned.
Belkar coughed. “I made a ..…..” his eyes rolled into his head. His hand opened up and a small ruby rolled out.
“Durkon! Can you bring him back?” yelled Haley.
Before anyone could make a move, there was a flash and Xykon stood before them. Energy spilled from his body as his undead form stared at Haley.
“You all do make me laugh.”
Xykon reached forward and touched Haley. She never even had a chance to scream. Color drained from her body. Her eyes and hair turned white as she fell to the ground lifeless.
Xykon laughed and heard a crunch. Elan had stabbed his sword into the lich and was twisting the blade. Xykon back handed Elan with such force, his body went airborne. Everything turned into images. Horrible laughter, Roy yelling, taste of blood, shards of lava falling from the sky, something glowing in his hand and a terrible voice yelling into the darken sky.
“Her soul belongs to me! You will never see it again. Not in this life or the next!”
***
Elan woke with a start. His hands went to his eyes but still the tears would not come. Eleven years had passed since that battle where Xykon took Haley away. Eleven years of searching and fighting. Eleven years of wanting to die but could not because he knew in heaven he would not be reunited with his dear Haley.
Roy and Durkon had just woken and they all looked at each other.
“Let’s go.” whispered Roy.
The valley was silent as Xykon stood still as a statue. Energy flowed off his skeletal form and his glowing eyes never moved. Two men and a dwarf slowly approached from three different sides to make a triangle around the lich. The sky swirled with purple and red clouds. The valley was silent like a tomb.
The three paused as they felt something intrude into their minds.
“The last few cities will fall. I control the power of the Snarl and yet you three still think you can stop me.”
“We have gained enough power over the years to take you on.” Roy growled.
Xykon tilted his lich head. “Hero’s and their souls are soon parted.”
The lich’s robes bellowed in the sudden wind. His hands rose up and energy began rise like smoke from bone and withered skin.
“You have no idea why I am here in this valley?”
“It doesn’t matter. We end it here.” Elan could hear a voice in his mind. Quickly it gave him instructions.
Xykon gave a quick snort. “In this very valley two armies of mages, wizards, warlocks and witches fought a titanic battle. Their energies poisoned the entire valley. Nothing grows, life does not belong here. I will raise their bones to make the perfect army under my control….”
Roy and Durkon darted toward Xykon. Roy’s sword punctured and shattered a few ribs of the lich. Durkon smashed his hammer into the glowing skull.
Xykon didn’t move from either blow. “..An army of lich’s!”
A wave of energy exploded from Xykon and flashed across the valley. Roy drew his sword and went to drive the blade down. Xykon caught the blade in his skeletal hand. Roy struggled to draw the blade back. The lich’s boney hands sharpened into points and drove them into Roy’s face. The lich could see Roy die, his soul slowly floating out of his body. The lich drew back and let Roy fall to the ground. Roy’s soul hovered and then a force of energy slammed the soul back into his fallen body. Roy opened his eyes. He was healed and already getting to his feet.
Xykon turn to Durkon. “Nice trick. How many times can you do that?”
Durkon smiled. “As many times as I need to.”
The dwarf came at the lich. Red lightning bolts arced from Xykon’s hands, striking Durkon’s holy aura. The ground rumbled and shook. Skeletal hands burst from the black earth. The area flashed with energies as Durkon and Xykon went blow for blow. Roy ran forward but lichs began to crowd around with their glowing eyes and grasping boney hands. Roy’s sword struck true with every swing but they were surrounded.
With a glowing fist, Xykon punched Durkon’s holy aura four times. The fourth time, the aura shattered. Durkon went flying into the earth. Lich’s piled onto the cleric. Their power so strong and evil so great, Durkon screamed as he was ripped to pieces. In a flash of a moment only the insane could see, Odin swooped down and took home one of his own.
Roy continued to fight. His eye’s looked around wildly. Xykon was slowly walking over to Elan. The bard stood his ground. He had not made a move during the entire battle. His gaze never left the ground.
“If you wish for me to take your soul, I will.” Xykon chuckled. “Your soul will be imprisoned with the billion other souls in my body. You can reunite with Haley. I will keep both of you as slaves in new bodies when my work here is done. Just say yes and you will be with your beloved.”
Elan stared at the lich for a moment. “No. Haley will be coming with me!”
Elan’s hand opened and a small red ruby fell to the ground and shattered. A blast of hot sulfur exploded across the valley. A hole opened up where the ruby fell. Elan slowly backed away with a jaunt as it grew wider. Xykon moved back and peered into the darkness. From the side, small hands emerged and pulled themselves up. Xykon stood motionless as he saw the Halfling Belkar climb up and stood at the edge of the pit.
“Is it true? You made a deal?” Elan said softly
“I made a deal with three demons. When I died I would be Hell’s avatar. I have the power of every evil warrior that ever existed, boiling in my body itching for a fight.”
“Why would Hell need an avatar?” Xykon grinned.
It was Belkar’s turn to laugh. “Because you’re holding onto many souls that belong in Hell. The higher ups want them where they belong.”
Pain ripped through Belkars tiny form as he fell forward. Muscles began to grow and twist. Everything about him grew larger as he growled and pulsed. Xykon took a step back as Belkar’s form grew bigger and bigger. Tusks jutted out of his mouth and his blood shot eyes stared down at Xykon.
“Plus, I need to get my friend out of your decaying ass.”
Belkar roared as his hulking form charged Xykon. Red energy blasted at Belkar but it didn’t even slow him down. With a fist clenched, Belkar pulled back and punched Xykon. The lich’s body soared into the sky and landed five hundred feet away into a cloud of dust.
The army of lich’s swarmed Belkar. Bones shattered and skulls went flying as Belkar roared and destroyed each undead with one massive punch after another. Lighting bolts blasted at Hell’s new avatar but nothing slowed him down. Belkar had become a force of nature with Hell’s backing.
Xykon emerged from the cloud with raised hands. Red energy streaked forward. Belkar turned to Xykon and matched his energy with his own. Xykon channeled the Snarl as Belkar channeled Hell. The streams of power were causing the area to rip apart. Roy tried to back off but lich’s started to swarm over him.
Calmness passed over Roy as he looked over the battle field. He could feel the lich’s sapping his strength. He knew he wouldn’t get out of here. He looked over and could still see Elan standing in the middle of the fray, doing nothing. A tear rolled down Roy’s cheek as he used the last of his strength and heaved his sword into the air. It landed next to Elan’s feet with a sharp thud.
“See you in the next life, Elan!” Roy yelled as his broke his amulet holding a drop of god’s blood.
A drop of god’s blood was enough to destroy a smaller area then an arrow covered in it. Elan was knocked to the ground as the explosion ripped apart the area, blasting half of the lich army to dust.
Belkar pushed forward as did Xykon, their energies wrecking havoc to everything close by. As they drew closer, the power between them grew more intense.
“You will not stop me, Halfling! My power is that of a god!” screamed Xykon.
Belkar pushed forward till he was on top of the lich, their power destroying everything around them. Hell infused all of its power into the monster Halfling as he was inches from the undead god.
“You forget………I AM THE SEXY SHOELESS GOD OF WAR!” Belkar roared.
Belkar drew back both his fists. He clamped them together and swung them with such force, the ground shook for a thousand miles. When they struck Xykon, Belkar not only punched through his form, but his very being in this universe. The lich shattered in an explosion of dust and bones. The resulting energy flew in every direction. Xykon’s skull flew through the air and in one last effort pulled the energy together and aimed it back at Belkar in the form of a lance. It struck Belkar’s being and ripped it into nothingness.
What was left of the lich army, fell to the blacken ground and the valley was once again still as a tomb. Xykon’s skull laughed as it lay on the ground.
“Even with your best, I still live! My body will grow back. This world will be mine!” Then Xykon heard a scarping noise.
Elan slowly moved toward the fallen lich, dragging Roy’s blade in the rocky ground. His eyes fixed on what was left of Xykon.
“Pitiful.” Xykon laughed.
Elan smiled. “The Snarl has left you.”
“I will draw its power back to me with time. You still cannot destroy me. I will re-grow my body and continue. I have all the time in the world.”
“No, you don’t.”
Elan stood over the skull and gazed at it for a moment.
“Roy’s sword is an undead slayer. It destroys any undead which come in contact with it.”
Xykon was silent.
“Without the Snarl to make you a god, you are just another piece of undead garbage.” Elan lifted up the sword.
“I will give you anything.” Xykon said flatly.
“Give me Haley!”
Elan brought the sword down and sliced Xykon’s skull in two. There was no flash, no explosion. The pieces fell side to side and silence. Elan fell to his knees and looked down. Light began to glow from the last two pieces of Xykon. Tiny orbs of light began to rise up and float into the sky. Elan looked in wonder as millions of tiny lights rose up into the darken sky. There was a flash of an image, a beautiful image of Haley as she stood there with a smile on her face.
Happiness flooded Elan’s mind, body and soul. He smiled as he looked up at the pillar of lights ascending into the sky. His body had taken so much damage from pain and anguish; his heart couldn’t take it anymore. It stopped beating and Elan died as he looked up into the sky, with tears in his eyes.
-Fin-
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The characters are interesting without being over the top. I don't normally right fan fiction but this was a special case. I wanted to see a grittier version of the characters and the world. I had written this story some time back but I have re-read it a few times and I believe it holds up. Enjoy.
Roy wiped the sweat off his brow. His lungs hurt and body ached. He had been practicing all day and it was wearing him down. The sky swirled in darkness as he ran through his stances and strikes once more. Roy’s body moved into a thrusting stance and his heel slipped on a loose stone. He caught himself and nearly dropped his sword. Curses poured from his mouth. Time was not being kind to him and he could feel it with every passing day.
There was a glint of light in the distance. Roy squinted and could see a lone figure running toward him from the distance. Red lighting flashed and lit up the sky. Elan crossed the distance in minutes. He fell to his knees when he reached Roy, trying to catch his breath. Roy helped his friend up and tried to keep the concern from his eyes. Elan looked like a shell of a man. His eyes were sunken in, face scarred and hair had turned a ghostly white.
“No goblins. No soldiers. There is nothing in the valley. Xykon is just standing right in the middle like a statue.” Elan huffed.
“He is waiting for us?” Roy took out his canteen and passed it to Elan.
“I don’t know.” Elan took a gulp of water. “I don’t know anything anymore.”
“We will do this. We will stop this.” Roy tried to sound positive.
“Does it matter? Xykon already won.”
“When Durkon gets back, we will rest and strike tomorrow.”
Elan pushed white hair away from his face. He wanted tears to roll down his face once more like a waterfall during spring time. But the rivers of love which flowed through him dried up a long time ago. He lay down on his sleeping bag and tried to gain some rest for the worthless battle ahead of him.
Belkar fiddled with a ruby as the group tried to make sense of the current plan. The rest of the group huddled around a large oak table with a map pinned to it. Elan tried to pick up one of the little metal pieces but Roy smacked the back of his hand. Elan put it back down with a sad look.
“It doesn’t make sense Roy. Why would Xykon push his forces pass the Hellfire Volcano? Either he is going to split his forces to attack two different cities or he is trying to confuse us.” Haley reasoned.
“Aye, the lass is right. Xykon knows we have a large enough army to push him back.” Durkon took a swig of mead.
“He hasn’t moved in two days. I think he is preparing. If we attack in the morning, we might upset his plans. If we can cover both routes, we can push his goblins back into the volcano.”
Elan took Haley’s hand into his and gave it a light squeeze. “Roy, do you feel it’s going to work?”
Roy looked into Elan’s eyes and nodded.
Elan smiled. “Then I’m in!”
Images swirled into chaos. Darkness and red splashed onto Elan’s face as he opened his eyes into a nightmare. Haley was letting loose arrow after arrow into the horde. Durkon’s hammer smashed goblin skull after goblin skull. Roy was a mad man in battle, his sword slicing through monsters like water. Belkar was no where to be seen. Elan ducked and dodged incoming blades and arrows. He moved like a dancer through the enemy. His blade taking down every creature that stood too close. Despite all their skills, the battle was going badly.
Roy shouted to Haley. She nodded and reached for a red arrow from her quiver. Elan kept moving. Like a whirlwind, he drove back any creature close to Haley. The battle grew more intense as Xykon moved through his ranks. His power had grown to such a degree once he channeled the Snarl. Red lighting flashed with every step he took and the ground shook like the earth would fly apart at any moment.
Haley aimed at Xykon. It was easy, his body crackled with red energy. His undead body was generating so much heat; monsters would burst into flames if they stood too close. Time seemed to slow down just for this one point.
The red arrow Haley aimed was fused from fallen god blood. Should it strike another god, the explosion would be enough to destroy everything for a hundred miles in every direction. They all knew going in, this would mean the end of them but it was sacrifice most of them would make.
Haley’s muscles tensed. Her hand started to bleed from holding the arrow back. Roy, Elan and Durkon stood their ground with thousands of soldiers who volunteered. Their bodies acted like a wall against the horde of creatures trying to kill one woman with an arrow that slays gods.
Haley let out a breath and let the arrow fly. It darted across the sky. Elan slashed a goblin and as the creature’s body fell, Elan could see a red streak across the sky as the arrow reached Xykon. He smiled as the arrow struck home and exploded. Elan’s body relaxed. He stared at Haley and for a moment waited for the explosion to take their lives.
The explosion never came.
Elan looked and stared in horror as Xykon held the energy in a pillar of darkness. The explosion flowed like a river and shot skyward. There was a bright flash. Elan shielded his eyes. Xykon laughed and his energy started to glow and strike in all directions. Soldiers were thrown like rag dolls. Roy stood steadfast as an energy bolt struck him. His body didn’t even shake but blood poured down his arm.
Elan tried to fight through the melee to get to Haley. They had to get out of there. They had to retreat. Xykon was going to kill them all. Haley had her jaw clenched as she started to swing arrows out of her quiver and let them loose.
“Haley!” Elan shouted.
Xykon took notice and turned his glowing red eyes on Haley. His skeletal hands opened and energy began to pour. The volcano behind Xykon began to rumble and a torrent of lava shot up into the sky.
“NO!” Elan screamed.
The lava swirled like a living serpent in the sky. The end formed into a dragon head and pointed its gaze at Haley. It streamed down in a blink of an eye. Xykon continued to laugh as the sky filled with molten lava. A large shard of lava fell from the sky toward Haley. Her eyes turned to Elan. Elan could see fear grip her. He tried to push toward her. A goblin hammer glanced off his head. Élan went into a spin and hit the ground. A kobold jumped on the fallen Elan and started stabbing at his face and neck. A fist wrapped around the creature’s neck and broke it with a squeeze. Elan looked up and saw Haley on the ground, with Belkar lying next to her. His body was steaming and burnt. Durkon threw the dead kobold away and helped Elan up.
“I cannea` believe it! Belkar saved Haley. He knocked her out of the way before the lava could hit her!”
Elan ran to Haley. She wrapped her arms around him as he helped her up. They both turned to Belkar as he lay on the ground smoking. When they drew close they could see he was missing an arm and his body was badly burned.
Belkar coughed. “I made a ..…..” his eyes rolled into his head. His hand opened up and a small ruby rolled out.
“Durkon! Can you bring him back?” yelled Haley.
Before anyone could make a move, there was a flash and Xykon stood before them. Energy spilled from his body as his undead form stared at Haley.
“You all do make me laugh.”
Xykon reached forward and touched Haley. She never even had a chance to scream. Color drained from her body. Her eyes and hair turned white as she fell to the ground lifeless.
Xykon laughed and heard a crunch. Elan had stabbed his sword into the lich and was twisting the blade. Xykon back handed Elan with such force, his body went airborne. Everything turned into images. Horrible laughter, Roy yelling, taste of blood, shards of lava falling from the sky, something glowing in his hand and a terrible voice yelling into the darken sky.
“Her soul belongs to me! You will never see it again. Not in this life or the next!”
Elan woke with a start. His hands went to his eyes but still the tears would not come. Eleven years had passed since that battle where Xykon took Haley away. Eleven years of searching and fighting. Eleven years of wanting to die but could not because he knew in heaven he would not be reunited with his dear Haley.
Roy and Durkon had just woken and they all looked at each other.
“Let’s go.” whispered Roy.
The valley was silent as Xykon stood still as a statue. Energy flowed off his skeletal form and his glowing eyes never moved. Two men and a dwarf slowly approached from three different sides to make a triangle around the lich. The sky swirled with purple and red clouds. The valley was silent like a tomb.
The three paused as they felt something intrude into their minds.
“The last few cities will fall. I control the power of the Snarl and yet you three still think you can stop me.”
“We have gained enough power over the years to take you on.” Roy growled.
Xykon tilted his lich head. “Hero’s and their souls are soon parted.”
The lich’s robes bellowed in the sudden wind. His hands rose up and energy began rise like smoke from bone and withered skin.
“You have no idea why I am here in this valley?”
“It doesn’t matter. We end it here.” Elan could hear a voice in his mind. Quickly it gave him instructions.
Xykon gave a quick snort. “In this very valley two armies of mages, wizards, warlocks and witches fought a titanic battle. Their energies poisoned the entire valley. Nothing grows, life does not belong here. I will raise their bones to make the perfect army under my control….”
Roy and Durkon darted toward Xykon. Roy’s sword punctured and shattered a few ribs of the lich. Durkon smashed his hammer into the glowing skull.
Xykon didn’t move from either blow. “..An army of lich’s!”
A wave of energy exploded from Xykon and flashed across the valley. Roy drew his sword and went to drive the blade down. Xykon caught the blade in his skeletal hand. Roy struggled to draw the blade back. The lich’s boney hands sharpened into points and drove them into Roy’s face. The lich could see Roy die, his soul slowly floating out of his body. The lich drew back and let Roy fall to the ground. Roy’s soul hovered and then a force of energy slammed the soul back into his fallen body. Roy opened his eyes. He was healed and already getting to his feet.
Xykon turn to Durkon. “Nice trick. How many times can you do that?”
Durkon smiled. “As many times as I need to.”
The dwarf came at the lich. Red lightning bolts arced from Xykon’s hands, striking Durkon’s holy aura. The ground rumbled and shook. Skeletal hands burst from the black earth. The area flashed with energies as Durkon and Xykon went blow for blow. Roy ran forward but lichs began to crowd around with their glowing eyes and grasping boney hands. Roy’s sword struck true with every swing but they were surrounded.
With a glowing fist, Xykon punched Durkon’s holy aura four times. The fourth time, the aura shattered. Durkon went flying into the earth. Lich’s piled onto the cleric. Their power so strong and evil so great, Durkon screamed as he was ripped to pieces. In a flash of a moment only the insane could see, Odin swooped down and took home one of his own.
Roy continued to fight. His eye’s looked around wildly. Xykon was slowly walking over to Elan. The bard stood his ground. He had not made a move during the entire battle. His gaze never left the ground.
“If you wish for me to take your soul, I will.” Xykon chuckled. “Your soul will be imprisoned with the billion other souls in my body. You can reunite with Haley. I will keep both of you as slaves in new bodies when my work here is done. Just say yes and you will be with your beloved.”
Elan stared at the lich for a moment. “No. Haley will be coming with me!”
Elan’s hand opened and a small red ruby fell to the ground and shattered. A blast of hot sulfur exploded across the valley. A hole opened up where the ruby fell. Elan slowly backed away with a jaunt as it grew wider. Xykon moved back and peered into the darkness. From the side, small hands emerged and pulled themselves up. Xykon stood motionless as he saw the Halfling Belkar climb up and stood at the edge of the pit.
“Is it true? You made a deal?” Elan said softly
“I made a deal with three demons. When I died I would be Hell’s avatar. I have the power of every evil warrior that ever existed, boiling in my body itching for a fight.”
“Why would Hell need an avatar?” Xykon grinned.
It was Belkar’s turn to laugh. “Because you’re holding onto many souls that belong in Hell. The higher ups want them where they belong.”
Pain ripped through Belkars tiny form as he fell forward. Muscles began to grow and twist. Everything about him grew larger as he growled and pulsed. Xykon took a step back as Belkar’s form grew bigger and bigger. Tusks jutted out of his mouth and his blood shot eyes stared down at Xykon.
“Plus, I need to get my friend out of your decaying ass.”
Belkar roared as his hulking form charged Xykon. Red energy blasted at Belkar but it didn’t even slow him down. With a fist clenched, Belkar pulled back and punched Xykon. The lich’s body soared into the sky and landed five hundred feet away into a cloud of dust.
The army of lich’s swarmed Belkar. Bones shattered and skulls went flying as Belkar roared and destroyed each undead with one massive punch after another. Lighting bolts blasted at Hell’s new avatar but nothing slowed him down. Belkar had become a force of nature with Hell’s backing.
Xykon emerged from the cloud with raised hands. Red energy streaked forward. Belkar turned to Xykon and matched his energy with his own. Xykon channeled the Snarl as Belkar channeled Hell. The streams of power were causing the area to rip apart. Roy tried to back off but lich’s started to swarm over him.
Calmness passed over Roy as he looked over the battle field. He could feel the lich’s sapping his strength. He knew he wouldn’t get out of here. He looked over and could still see Elan standing in the middle of the fray, doing nothing. A tear rolled down Roy’s cheek as he used the last of his strength and heaved his sword into the air. It landed next to Elan’s feet with a sharp thud.
“See you in the next life, Elan!” Roy yelled as his broke his amulet holding a drop of god’s blood.
A drop of god’s blood was enough to destroy a smaller area then an arrow covered in it. Elan was knocked to the ground as the explosion ripped apart the area, blasting half of the lich army to dust.
Belkar pushed forward as did Xykon, their energies wrecking havoc to everything close by. As they drew closer, the power between them grew more intense.
“You will not stop me, Halfling! My power is that of a god!” screamed Xykon.
Belkar pushed forward till he was on top of the lich, their power destroying everything around them. Hell infused all of its power into the monster Halfling as he was inches from the undead god.
“You forget………I AM THE SEXY SHOELESS GOD OF WAR!” Belkar roared.
Belkar drew back both his fists. He clamped them together and swung them with such force, the ground shook for a thousand miles. When they struck Xykon, Belkar not only punched through his form, but his very being in this universe. The lich shattered in an explosion of dust and bones. The resulting energy flew in every direction. Xykon’s skull flew through the air and in one last effort pulled the energy together and aimed it back at Belkar in the form of a lance. It struck Belkar’s being and ripped it into nothingness.
What was left of the lich army, fell to the blacken ground and the valley was once again still as a tomb. Xykon’s skull laughed as it lay on the ground.
“Even with your best, I still live! My body will grow back. This world will be mine!” Then Xykon heard a scarping noise.
Elan slowly moved toward the fallen lich, dragging Roy’s blade in the rocky ground. His eyes fixed on what was left of Xykon.
“Pitiful.” Xykon laughed.
Elan smiled. “The Snarl has left you.”
“I will draw its power back to me with time. You still cannot destroy me. I will re-grow my body and continue. I have all the time in the world.”
“No, you don’t.”
Elan stood over the skull and gazed at it for a moment.
“Roy’s sword is an undead slayer. It destroys any undead which come in contact with it.”
Xykon was silent.
“Without the Snarl to make you a god, you are just another piece of undead garbage.” Elan lifted up the sword.
“I will give you anything.” Xykon said flatly.
“Give me Haley!”
Elan brought the sword down and sliced Xykon’s skull in two. There was no flash, no explosion. The pieces fell side to side and silence. Elan fell to his knees and looked down. Light began to glow from the last two pieces of Xykon. Tiny orbs of light began to rise up and float into the sky. Elan looked in wonder as millions of tiny lights rose up into the darken sky. There was a flash of an image, a beautiful image of Haley as she stood there with a smile on her face.
Happiness flooded Elan’s mind, body and soul. He smiled as he looked up at the pillar of lights ascending into the sky. His body had taken so much damage from pain and anguish; his heart couldn’t take it anymore. It stopped beating and Elan died as he looked up into the sky, with tears in his eyes.
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Friday, July 16, 2010
Zombie Speak Part 2
Sally snapped out of it and started to walk away. The truck turned slightly and aimed for her. There was a loud “CRACK!” and Sally’s body was thrown into the air and falling into a ditch. The truck sped down the road, around a bend and out of sight in a manner of moments.
Three corpses stood by the road, motionless. For a space of minutes, there was no movement from the ditch. And then Sally slowly got up and shambled toward them, missing her left arm.
“Thank you, Peter. I saw all that delicious meat sitting in the driver’s side and I felt lost.”
“Your arm wasn’t so lucky.” Grinned Paul
Sally shrugged but it simply appeared as a moan. “It didn’t hurt. I could care less.”
“You should care, one less hand to grab more meat. Don’t expect any helping hands from me.”
“You’re a jerk Paul. I hope your dick rots off!” screamed Sally which just appeared as a loud moan.
“It already did! It’s not like I was using it anymore anyway!” moaned Paul.
“Will both of you stop. Don’t you understand that was meat driving that truck? The Runner was right.” Peter looked at them.
The four corpses continued on their journey. The sun was dipping down and touched the horizon. The air grew cooler and the trees continued their swaying dance with the wind. Town lights could be seen in the distance.
The foursome moved down toward the lights as the sun faded over the horizon and night cloaked this part of the world. They moved toward the mass of corpses and decaying creatures as they grabbed and pulled at the chain link fence. They chanted over and over again: “MEAT NIGHT! MEAT NIGHT! MEAT NIGHT!”.
Paul shambled forward with a smile on his decaying face. Sally and John soon followed. Peter held back and looked at the scene. Runners were sprinting out of the darkness and rushing the fence. Slower corpses were clawing at the fence amid flood lights pointed at them. Inside the fence moved around the prize. Walking stacks of meat were moving and taking positions. They had rifles and guns. At one of the entrances, there was a pile of smashed corpses. The truck from earlier had made it through the crowd and was inside the gated area.
For a brief moment, Peter felt something. It was so far away from him that he barely noticed. He remembered when he was alive. He saw his wife and three children. They used to play together on Sundays. That was family day. On one last family day, he ate them. They had tasted so good. But now he sort of missed them. Then the feeling passed.
Peter felt the call. He moved and became one with the crowd. He moaned as he saw people behind the fence. They were scared. They held onto each other as the crowd grew bigger and bigger. Even Peter could not stay away from the siren call. His moans joined the crowd. That chant, that beautiful chorus continued.
“MEAT NIGHT! MEAT NIGHT MEAT NIGHT!”.
~Fin~
You may download this story-Zombie Speak.
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Thursday, July 15, 2010
Zombie Speak Part 1
*This is a translated true account of 4 zombies in the decayed wilds of New Jersey trying to make their way to Meat Night.
It had been hours since a Runner ran past them yelling out “Meat Night!”. The road was deserted except for a few abandoned cars and muted green trees swaying in the lazy wind. Peter was ahead of the other three corpses. He thought he was slow but his three comrades were even slower. Yet, he carried on.
The four of them have not eaten in months. Peter was having a hard time remembering what real fresh meat looked liked. The hunger was always there, gnawing at their minds. The Runner was fast and his yelling brought good news to the traveling four. They all wanted to eat in the worse way.
“Peter! Slow down!” Paul moaned.
“Yea Peter. Some of us are not as fast as you.” moaned Sally.
Peter stopped and turned around slowly to his, and he used the term loosely, friends. They stumbled and scrapped their feet. To any living person, they looked hollow and sightless but to Peter, they just looked bored.
“If we do not hurry, we are going to miss out. I am sick of being hungry.” Peter moaned loudly back at the three.
“We will always be hungry. Hell, I am hungry an hour after eating.” John moaned quietly.
“Geez John is everything Chinese food to you.” growled Paul.
“Do you even remember what Chinese food tastes like?” added Sally to Paul.
Paul thought for a moment. “No. Even back then I hated it because it gave me migraines.”
“Can everyone please shut up about Chinese food!” Peter moaned. He felt sick even thinking about.
The three corpses made it to Peter and they started walking together. To Peter’s regret, he slowed it down for his slow friends.
“Why are we going to this Meat Night anyway? You know they are armed. I miss the old days. I never had a cow shoot at me.” Paul grumbled.
“Didn’t they keep cows fenced in?” said John as he twisted his head around.
“Yea, they had to keep the cows in line so they wouldn’t rise up and hunt the most dangerous game, man!” Peter chuckled.
“The slaughtering floor must have been sweet. All that meat! Even if I was just a head, stick me in the drain with my mouth facing up.” Paul laughed. At least it sounded like a laugh.
“I don’t like when they shoot at us.” John said meekly.
Peter looked over his decayed shoulder at John. “No one likes to be shot at. Maybe if you guys were a little quicker, they would have a harder time with it.”
“Remember Derek?” Sally continued her at her slow pace.
“I told him to find cover. I knew it was a trap. I mean, come on! Meat right there in the street and it was waving its hands and yelling. It had to be a trap. He got that far away look and started walking toward her. Two bullets and he went down.” Spat Peter.
“You know that feeling Peter. You have meat jumping and running in front of you, you lose all sense.” Paul turned his head and looked back the way they came.
“Yes! I know the feeling. But we are not Runners. You need to see the situation before you go walking up to dinner.”
“I hate Runners.” Sally shambled forward. “They think they are just so cool. If they just moved a little slower then maybe they would have some class.”
Paul smiled. At least it looked like a smile. “Remember Jacob?”
The group of corpses stopped and started laughing. It took a full two minutes before they calmed down and started walking again. To anyone else it would have just looked like they stopped.
“Jacob! That hole in his chest always gave him away. He would run around the whole city and you could hear that whistling sound. He even plugged the hole with some meat but later got hungry and ate it.” Paul chuckled.
“I am surprised he lasted as long as he did. They had to use a machine gun on him.” Peter looked off.
“He was so hungry. I think he couldn’t take it anymore.” Paul looked down the road again.
All four heard the sound and soon the rumbling. From behind them, a truck was driving at full speed toward them. Peter started moving off to the side with John and Paul following. Sally must have been hungry because started walking toward the truck.
“Sally! Move out of the way!” Peter grunted.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Download
Putting short stories together has been a great deal of fun. Getting back to my creative roots has been filling me with muse and wonderment in recent weeks. During my travels on looking for a happy medium for downloading said stories, I came across Scribd.
Scribd is an excellent site. I was so caught up in researching the site, I lost track of time. So many different stories interested me I literally had to pull myself away from the computer.
My romance with writing has been a whirlwind lately and I have no plans of slowing down.
I uploaded Weeping and Jane Monster Hunter to Scribd. They are available for download so you can take the stories and go.
Jane Monster Hunter
Weeping
More stories to come.
~Julian
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Scribd is an excellent site. I was so caught up in researching the site, I lost track of time. So many different stories interested me I literally had to pull myself away from the computer.
My romance with writing has been a whirlwind lately and I have no plans of slowing down.
I uploaded Weeping and Jane Monster Hunter to Scribd. They are available for download so you can take the stories and go.
More stories to come.
~Julian
Read more...
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