Though they had been traveling together for years, Yul never could quite get over just how much testicular fortitude Vexa seemed to have. The wiry gnoll stood up wearily, his body stiff from the uncomfortable position on a jumble of overturned crates. He stepped out into the blazing heat of the desert sun, the rays producing an almost golden sheen on his coat, grateful that his kind were born and bred for this kind of atmosphere.
“Vexa…” He warned. The tiny female took no notice of him. She was far too busy arguing with a vendor. Of what, Yul didn’t know. He didn’t care. Knowing her, it was likely something stupid and of little consequence. “Vexa! For the love of the gods, woman, could you stop yapping at the man for two minutes and calm down?”
It was a stupid comment, to be sure, and his punishment was swift. The kobold he’d just insulted jabbed the end of her staff into his gut, harrumphing.
“Vexa will NOT calm down!” She screeched angrily. “She is being cheated! It will not be tolerated, and reparations will be made before the caravan is permitted to leave.”
“Urgh… stupid greedy good-fer-nuthin…” Yul muttered, seething at Vexa’s inability to be rational. Of all the times, and of all the places to argue over a few coppers, this had to be one of the worst. "Listen, I don't know how much you think you're being 'cheated' you coin-squeezing cheapskate. I don't care. If you have to, take the difference out of my stipend. The rest of the caravan is dying in the heat. They aren't built to withstand this kind of weather like you and I are. Just take your money and lets go."
Another whack of the staff, and Yul found himself doubled over in pain. She'd struck him squarely in the groin.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
An introduction to the Silver Road.
Here is a little bit of background to the story "The Silver Road."
I take the title of this blog from the organization that the main character belongs to - the Traders of the Silver Road. The traders are a bit like stereotypical gypsies combined with pirates, traveling in huge caravans all across the realms, seeking out items of both magic and mundane nature to add to their offerings. Each trader has a staff that depicts a bit of their soul, the very fiber of their being used to craft it. The materials it is made out of varies from trader to trader, but they all have a silver cap on the bottom. Those still learning the ropes, so to speak, have their caps plain, or with something very simple carved into it, such as bands or geometric shapes. Fully vetted traders have more complex designs, and those with the highest honors have magical or valuable items bonded in it.
The story takes place in a RPG mechanics world. Characters freely reference experience points, levels, classes, hit points and other RPG staples. I make the parallel that we know that if you eat foods with alot of calories, you gain weight. They know if you gain a lot of experience points, you go up in level. Though I may make D&D style references, and use some of their races, I do not pretend to know enough about the game and world to use it for my own setting. This is an semi-original universe with heavy borrowings from others writers and story tellers.
I write by the seat of my pants, and though there are a few events that are planned out, most everything is flexible. Hell, right now ( 4PM on Thursday, September 30), I don't even have the names of any of the other characters. I don't even know what SPECIES they are. I have some traits that I want them to have, but I won't know what they're really like until I sit down and write them.
I take the title of this blog from the organization that the main character belongs to - the Traders of the Silver Road. The traders are a bit like stereotypical gypsies combined with pirates, traveling in huge caravans all across the realms, seeking out items of both magic and mundane nature to add to their offerings. Each trader has a staff that depicts a bit of their soul, the very fiber of their being used to craft it. The materials it is made out of varies from trader to trader, but they all have a silver cap on the bottom. Those still learning the ropes, so to speak, have their caps plain, or with something very simple carved into it, such as bands or geometric shapes. Fully vetted traders have more complex designs, and those with the highest honors have magical or valuable items bonded in it.
The story takes place in a RPG mechanics world. Characters freely reference experience points, levels, classes, hit points and other RPG staples. I make the parallel that we know that if you eat foods with alot of calories, you gain weight. They know if you gain a lot of experience points, you go up in level. Though I may make D&D style references, and use some of their races, I do not pretend to know enough about the game and world to use it for my own setting. This is an semi-original universe with heavy borrowings from others writers and story tellers.
I write by the seat of my pants, and though there are a few events that are planned out, most everything is flexible. Hell, right now ( 4PM on Thursday, September 30), I don't even have the names of any of the other characters. I don't even know what SPECIES they are. I have some traits that I want them to have, but I won't know what they're really like until I sit down and write them.
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