DDO Olympics: Storytelling

Chapter I: Dreams of WarThe sounds of madness filled the air in bloodshed and moonlight.The dust and rain poured around the glow of fire in the background of the world, turning around him like a dream. Colors morphed into laughter and play as the children of his past ran across him. They spoke of crusades and valor, as they grew into adult before his eyes. The day had ended, and so will his, slowly fading to the afterlife. His life ran across his eyes, and before he could turn his gaze to follow, was gone...-----"Aldan! Wake up!" The words spat out the mouth of a black haired boy with crystal white eyes."Maverick... Maverick SHUT UP!" Aldan sat up, eyes closed and tired, his dream still burned in his mind..."Come on man... Wake up. You have to see this!" Maverick smiled like a King among his gold. "Fine fine... What is it." Aldan looked at Maverick, who was holding up a bag of coin. "Oh! Where did you..?""I found it. There is enough gold here to buy a house... We should take it on an adventure!" Aldan had always dreamed of an adventure. They both talked about it without end. But now that the chance was in front of him, he wasn't sure. It sounded more dangerous now that it wasn't just dreaming. He laughed and ignored the proposition. They got up and begun to head for town. It wasn't far, just behind a few trees to the west. Upon entrance, they saw the men gathered with armor and some on horses."What's going on?" Aldan asked someone beside him. The man didn't answer. The speaker in front of everyone was an elderly woman, Chief Courtier of the town. She begun to speak."The Zeck have attacked the Kingdom of Shi-Ki, to the south!" The audience could be heard talking among each other. "The Malakites are preparing to war against the Kingdoms of Arus! The Zeck will not be alone when the nations of Malaki come!" Malaki was a southern continent of sand and mythology. They had been trade partners to most all the Kingdoms of the continent of Arus. They have been at odds before, as Kingdoms often did. The conflicts started when the Empire of the Shian fell, and the connections between the Pagan kingdoms of Arus lost knowledge of the Malakites. In time, all of Arus came under one religion. This was when the Malakite Kingdoms attacked, hoping to claim all of Arus. United under the banner of religion, the Kingdoms of Arus pushed back. The lands the Malakites had conquered became known as the Kingdom of Shi-Ki. The continents had, over time, grew peaceful through trade."Why have they betrayed us?!" One man shouted from the crowd."I could never answer that. I know nothing of what evil magics may have led them to invade our lands" The wise woman spoke. "All able men of all the King's villages must come together and journey to the south to protect the Kingdom.""But why? It is not our fight! Let Shi-Ki defend themselves!" Another man shouted."Do not let yourself be persuaded by laziness and apathy to believe this is not your fight. Shi-Ki is but one Kingdom against many Kingdoms. Once they have fallen, the armies of the Malakites will swarm the continent, and the Kingdom of Ro will be under attack... The small Kingdom against many. And then you will wish that others would come to your aid... But they won't, for they will be gone."The men cried screams of acceptance to the call to war. They were ready at all costs. Aldan and Maverick wanted to go with them, but knew they were too young...The boys walk away with a deep excitement running through their blood. They couldn't believe it... War... They wanted to join with such zeal that they couldn't help but to plot.-----The Army had left the village the night after. When the coast was clear, the boys ran after, with only two swords and the cloths on their backs. The boys took all the gold with them in case they needed it, a hundred golden coins in value. Following after the Army was easy, as the march of a hundred men could be tracked by a dog with no nose."This is going to be like the stories and fables the old lady always told us!" Aldan laughed at the realization that they were gong to battle."Assuming we aren't the first ones dead!" Maverick smirked at the silly idea."I think I see the camp up ahead!" Aldan pointed and began to run forward.Upon reaching the camp, they felt a concerned chilled once their eyes fell across the scene. The camp was empty. A quick look made clear that the men had ran out to fight... Torn tents and blood gave away the silence... The boys ran after the tracks to join the army against whatever foe that had came in contact with, only to find the tracks led to a river beside a mighty waterfal. No tracks appeared on the other side. The boys had no way of finding the Army. Fearful, they turned back, only to see before them a troll twice their height and armed. It stared at the boys, its eyes moving across them. It sniffed the air for their scent, and begun to growl. It knew they were there, and it knew they were terrified...