DakotaKrout

Axiom ~ 27!

~ 27 ~

“Artorian! You explain yourself right now!” Yvessa refilled the water cup and handed it over, glaring at him as she waited for an explanation.

“Make me! …Just teasing, please don’t.” He flashed her a playful smile, though she didn’t relent in the slightest. As her face puffed up, so he quickly got back to it.

“As I wa...

Axiom ~ 26!

~ 26 ~

After the expedition team had left, life in the cloister fell into a very predictable daily routine. The Clerics that remained behind, while devout in their faith, settled into a more family-oriented pattern. Prayer was still daily, chants were recited and taught, but the work focus shifted over to food production and long-term stability. With so few present, the...

Axiom ~ 24+25!

~ 24 ~

The changing of the season was the signal for great activity at the encampment. In particular, it was what people had been waiting for: the majority of the expedition force had served its due time, and was to be released to go home. 

A predictable and set pattern repeated itself almost daily in the camp. With proper structures and fortifications now bu...

Axiom ~ 23!

~ 23 ~

“Truly, I mean it! It’s the corruption. Allow me to explain.” Beginning his breakdown of the next topic, Artorian took another bite of his meal. “I’m deteriorating because I’m playing with corruption, and to be honest… it’s terrible for me. I don’t require a lecture or to be told not to do so, I’m very much aware that I am sp...

Axiom ~ 22!

~ 22 ~

“Good morning, old man! How are you feeling today?” Yvessa carried the steaming bowl into the ‘medical tent’, the flap pushed aside by her elbow. The full-raiment-wearing priestess nicked the bowl against the side of the improvised nightstand before setting it down to rest. A whining set of groans were the reply from a man-shaped lump swaddled in thick bl...

Axiom ~ 21!

~ 21 ~

Tarrean heard a hug-in-progress and cringed. Likely because he was still envisioning the old man half-naked; that view was going to scar him. 

“Artorian, great you found me. I was looking for you as well. The Head Cleric has need of you. Could we speak after? I have tasks that I am in a hurry to complete.” Tibbins excused himself ...

Artorian ~ 20!

~ Twenty ~

Tibbins waited in front of the Head Cleric’s tent, ready with the report of the first week. What a week it had been. In fact, Tibbins was convinced that this was entirely the reason why he was being made to wait so long. The heavy cloth flap of the tent swung away, and Keeper Irene hurriedly passed him. The Acolyte snapped to a salute. He still firmly belie...

Artorian ~ 19!

~ Nineteen ~

“Well I’d say I’m not clever, but I am hardy.” A feminine voice replied from the corner, one of the young Clerics that had been injured in the fray.

Apologetic breath inhaled so his words could tumble out in a hush. “Oh, I’m terribly sorry my dear. I didn’t mean to wake you. Just mumbling to myself.” 

There was a moment of s...

Artorian ~ 18!

~ Eighteen ~

Artorian would say he was having terrible dreams; except he was very much awake, and they weren't dreams. His perception dabbled in a deep void, boundless… yet confined. 

The masses of... he was going to call it filth, twisted around in a sickening cascade of colored maelstroms. The hues outright refused to settle or ...

Axiom ~ 17!

~ Seventeen ~

Cleric Tibbins was confused, but dismissed the warning. He was evaluating one old man, not something that was exactly hard to do. “It’s not dangerous unless he is far stronger than I am, and I have the Head Cleric’s permission. What’s he going to do with cultivation knowledge with his age and condition? It’ll make for a pleasant dream at...

Axiom ~ 16!

~ Sixteen ~

Head Cleric Tarrean was pleasantly leafing through real paper once more in his personal tent. Smooth, crisp, light paper. None of this awful vellum for him! When he could get away with finery, he would. His polished, ornate armor was a testament to that. Just file such ostentatious tidbits away under some kind of basic need, and yo...

Axiom ~ 15!

~ Fifteen ~

The mental space collapsed into kaleidoscopic memories behind him, and every step forward pulled forth ideals, beliefs, and remembrances. This path he now walked was a recollection of all he’d done and was again willing to do. Memories knit together and the new perspective opened his arms wide, walking straight ahead as he took his first step on t...

Axiom ~ 14!

~ 14 ~

The Elder continued rising from the depths of the small coma he had been trapped within. 

“You win this one as well, shiny sky orb.” The old man kept his eyes closed after stirring from slumber. He had opened them, only to find a ceiling he didn’t often see. A spike of light sunk right into his sight, and the chorus of complaining voices were who...

Axiom ~ 13!

~ Thirteen ~

“Alright recruit. Once again, from the start.” Armored fingers drummed with delicate impatience on the extended table in the salt village longhouse. This entire mess of a report had more holes in it than his favorite cheese, and Head Cleric Tarrean had not been able to acquire said cheese for far too long. He shook his head an...

Axiom ~12!

~ Twelve ~

The Elder knew something was off as soon as he resurfaced. A smell in the air… it was wrong. His first breath of what should have been crisp air, instead filled his tongue with the flavor of smoke. His hearing picked the muffled cries alongside the crackling whips of wildfire. Something was burning, falling… breaking. 

Axiom ~ 11!

~ Eleven ~

Ideas bloomed in the sproutling’s thoughts. The plan was straightforward: make it to the cave, get the secrets, get home before morning meals. The old man just watched them with a pleasant joy as they put things together. He’d given them pieces of the puzzle, and even without being exceptionally prompted he could tell they were solving the conundrum. They...

Axiom ~ 10!

~ Ten ~

Crickets chirped in the dark when the kids snuck in through the Elder’s window. They each hopped onto the floor, in turn shushing the next one as their feet crunched on the popping shells they’d thrown a day before. 

The ruckus was anything but stealthy, and the Elder was long awake without moving a muscle, or flinching an eyelid. He hadn...

Axiom ~ 9!

Double chapter Monday! No real reason :P

~ Nine ~

The bonfire dance was a total success. Excess wood that had been stuffing the storage site was retrieved from the mound with drunken enthusiasm. Of course, neatly chopped logs spilled out when a few zealous drunks pulled from the bottom of the pile instead of the top. Ignoring the fact that the stack wou...

Axiom ~ 8!

~ Eight ~

Elder Switch was seething. Her vision snapped to various members of the village, each of whom felt their laughter die when their chortling was noticed by her strained, twitching eyes. Thankfully, Boro could still be seen fiddling about in the back; providing a necessary distraction. Forced to change topics, the room hastily returned to exchanging gent...

Axiom ~ 7!

~ Seven ~

A coordinated hive of activity and gossip. Those were the only words that could be used to describe the bustling longhouse. Actually, perhaps a chicken coop; one where a fox was running around causing havoc. The lengthy center table was prepared for a minor feast, with enough room to seat the majority of important people who were called upon to speak.  2019-10-02 17:14:15 +0000 UTC View Post

Axiom ~ 6!

~ Six ~

The Elder appeared both sad and angry at the same time, causing the children to move away and give him some distance. When he noticed the change in elbow room, he stopped pacing and forced his face back to a gentle smile. “You’re not at fault, my dears. It’s how the Fringe works. The rules here are ancient.” 

The oldest girl raised he...

Axiom ~ 5!

~ Five ~

Of course, the oldest was muscling his way through life! Everyone in his previous peer group was already off on the flats, and he had nobody his own age to talk to. Only the noisy children and the oldest girl counted as company, the latter of which most certainly bossed him around. 

“I want this cup because it means the Elder comes to tell...

Axiom ~ 4!

~ Four ~

The children didn’t know where the sudden cold shiver running down their spines came from; given they were all plenty warm under the sun. Aside from the momentary discomfort, they gave it no thought as they gathered up fallen fruit into woven baskets like they were supposed to do. There were more than apples in the orchard, but some trees bore fruit they simp...

Axiom ~ 3!

  Double chapter Monday! Woo!

~ Three ~

Past the bend of the nearest birch forest, a rather sizable caravan waited near a hastily hidden raider encampment. Lit torches hung from the cart’s sides as several bulky, scarred men tended to the horses. Hakan raised a disappointed brow at the number of her men who were patting and paying attention to the hooded cart; r...

Axiom ~ 2!

~ Two ~

*Shkrack*! A thin wooden cup crashed against the wall in the village longhouse, fragmenting into sizable chunks. The Elderly, bossy voice shrieked; releasing a spray of spittle as the sound of a long, thin piece of wood impacted with a *switch*. 

“Ahh!” A screech of pain erupted from a young voice as they were hit by a sharpened ...

Axiom ~ 1

~ One ~

*Thunk*. The old warrior woke from a deep sleep with a pained jerk, his latent nightmares still sending the word ‘Traitor’ ringing through his skull. His forehead stung as his aged body awoke to the aching impact of a shelled nut. Right on a sore spot near the temple. It had healed over… oh, decades ago by this point. 2019-09-20 14:47:00 +0000 UTC View Post

Axiom ~ prologue

~ Prologue ~

“Sir!”

A man in his early thirties looked up from the map he and a few others were pouring over, and could instantly see that the messenger had serious and grievous news to give him. “What in the abyss is going on out there? Report!"

“Sir, the front line has fallen, the main Commander has been slain. There was... there is a Mage 2019-09-18 15:46:18 +0000 UTC View Post