Guest guest Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 Wow!! That is a wonderful collection of powerful imagery!! You allowed me to see the fire, the Bards, and almost smell the spoor of dragon. When you write the book (please, please do write The Book!) I promise to buy a Hard Copy! Mostly lurking. Always fighting the 1B Dragon, with occasional moments of blatant denial. Always with you all in spirit. Having known reality, I often prefer a good fantasy. (scratch that, I prefer excellent fantasy!!) Lu (a newbee) At 01:50 AM 6/27/2004 -0400, you wrote: >Hey kids, > >I know we are all about keeping each others spirits up and lending strength, >so I thought I'd share something I've been doing with a friend of mine. We >are both active members of the Society of Creative Anacronisms, and love >playing >Bards when we get together, where I am known as Vortemir Fire-tender, a >wandering Finnish Kvitki (or storysinger), and he is called Mikal the Ram, >a Norse >Skald (or Bard). He had a bad go-round with the Dragon a few years back, and >my wife and I kinda watched over him for a bit while his wife wasn't around. >When I went active, he's the first person I turned to for advice, and we have >been working through almost every facet of my own treatment. Our little >fantasy interactions have been a great way for me to relieve some stress >and work >out some of the more difficult aspects I encountered along the way. > >Anyways, I thought I'd share some of our earlier posts, just to remind all of >you that while the list may be a fantastic venue for sharing, learning, and >ggathering strength, it is by no means the only one available to us. > >(Mikal writes) Midway through the forest the Finn stops, clutching at the >spiked mace and grimacing, he has assumed the distant glow had been some >spoor >of the dragon he sought, but it had proven to be the fitful smoking fire of >some traveler. Hunched forward over the greasy fire made of water laden >green >wood and half-dried needles, a grey haired Norseman sits, chewing >thoughtfully >on a strip of dried deer flesh and looks upward to the Dragonhunter with >little surprise in his eyes. > " The worm has still eluded you, I see. " He spits a half chewed > bit of >deer fat into the fire. " I can see in your eyes that you have bloodied him, >but the Dragon will not stand if it has a chance to retreat. " > Vortimir pulls a broken limb near the fire and sits on the still wet >bole. " How do you know? " > The older man shrugs. " Scars can come from anywhere. Scratches are >common. But the dark ringed eyes, the look of one starved, the grey in the >temples, and the look in the eye comes from only one thing; hunting a >personal >dragon. " > >(Vortemir writes) Tired feet stretched towards the sputtering fire, the >sprawling Finn gazes through the swirling smoke at the shaggy Norseman, >seeing >the ghosts of his struggles echoed in those craggy features. He is tired >from >his battles, from driving the beast from its lair, and feels a odd kinship >with this strange traveller. > > Sitting up slowly, he reaches into his thinning pack and draws forth his >own meager rations, trading heavy bread for greasy meat, and quenching his >thirst with clear water. The ashes coating his mouth are a harsh memory, >bringing back visions of the fight deep within the earth. Heat and >muscle, blood and >bone, tooth, claw, and the heavy weapons he had carried with him. All were >bound in one blurred image in his mind. His body ached from the strain he >had >put on it, and he was glad again for the sharp agony of the icy water, its >sting washed these memories from him, it washed clean the taste of battle and >left him feeling refreshed and clensed. With new eyes he reguarded his >compatriot, and asked " When was it last that your Dragon saw the sky? " > >(Mikal writes) " My dragon? " The older hunter smiles, even as he spit at >the word. " The worm and I did battle for nearly two years. It was the magic >they gave me, you know. It is impossible to kill the thing without it, but >the weapon is too careless in it's target. " He pulled his collar down, >showing >the gashes turned to puckered scars. " They give ye a weapon that would kill >any dragon, but it is hard to keep about you. " > In the fitful firelight he upturns a bag, spilling out it's > contents. >A rusted iron ball covered in wicked spikes rocks on the ground. A length >of chain dangles from it, ending in an iron cuff. Some small magic still >clings to the ball, and it hisses fitfully as the rain strikes it. > The younger Finn smiles. He raises his own right wrist into the >light. A similar cuff and chain depend from it. " They told me it only >works if >you lock it on. " His smile turns grim. " But the chain will let it swing >much >too wide. " > " Aye. " The older man sits by the fire chewing. " My Dragon is down >there, " he points to the a dark cleft in a hillside. " Two years now. It >cries >out at times, but it has no heart to try to fly again. I think it waits. " > " For what? " the Finn looks at the tear in the earth. > " For me to get too old to fight. " The Norseman smiles up at him > with >a dark look in his eye. " Iron may rust. But it takes a long, long time. " > >Peace to all, >D > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 Hey there Sara, Glad to see how much you enjoyed the post, and rest assured that I'll pass it on to Mikal. You spoke both of the SCA and of Ren Faire, and by some odd coincidence I am affiliated with both organizations. I live in the Shire of Wyvern Cliffe, deep in the heart of Calontir, and my wife and I run Tri Canis Nox (booth # 400) at the Kansas City Ren Faire every year. If you get a chance, come by and see us! (Heck that goes for any of you up to the trip!) Incidentally, I'm a Horse, and my wife is a Tiger. Believe me when I say we are both CLASSIC examples of our symbols! Peace, D (Shadowbear is to much to remember *grin*) For more information on the SCA, please visit http://www.sca.org/ For more information on the KC Ren Faire, please visit http://kcrenfest.com/index.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2004 Report Share Posted June 27, 2004 If we write it, they will come. Ya know, I wonder if anyone else has had this idea? Peace, D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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