Short Story

KroqGar · 22nd June 2008, 09:02

Now, I was trying to get myself in the mod for some MO, and was having difficulty writing some standard human stories as I'm not quite sure on the background yet. So, I decided to write something based on a Half-Orc trying to fit in in the world. It's not even close to my best work, it's just something I knocked out really quickly earlier on, but I hope you guys like it.

“I’ll give you twenty gold for the bundle.” The words were hollow and unimpressed as the whisper left the man’s mouth. The man who said them stood underneath a large tree, turning over a bundle of furs tied tight with rough twine. His face was schooled into an uncaring expression as he idly turned over the motley collection of fox and rabbit furs. Most of them were dirt-stained or torn, and some were both. His expression changed to a mild disgust as he looked at what, a few days ago, had been a beautiful fox pelt but was now soiled with a muddy handprint. They were barely worth his original offer, let alone twenty. The only thing worthy about them was the fact that they were full pelts instead of sections of fur.

“That fox alone is worth ten, and there’s three more just like it in there.” A deep-throated growl greeted the man’s offer, well spoken for such a feral being. A few paces away from the man, within easy reach of a weapon, towered a Half-Orc. A full head and shoulders taller than the man, it looked more like the man was being robbed rather than the other way around. The Half-Orc looked more like a full-blooded Orc than something with Human ancestry, which added to the oddity of the scene. A grunt followed a cloud of steamy breath as it slowly escaped the fanged maw.

“It would be, if it wasn’t torn and muddied. As it stands, I’m being generous with twenty.” The man retorted quite casually. He dropped the bundle on the dew-covered grass and looked around the small, dark clearing. Turning around so that his back was towards the Half-Orc, he looked at the thin line of trees separating him and the town. A mere shout from him would bring the guards, who would be more than a match for the starving, unarmed Half-Orc. The man chuckled when he thought of the position he was in, doing charity for a barbaric Half-Orc. A plague to society, he thought. Ah well, one that gave him a steady supply of pelts, no matter what shape they were in when they got to his grimy hands. Exhaling sharply, he drew in a deep breath of the cold morning air before turning back to the Half-Orc.

“Look, that’s my offer. Take it or leave it, it doesn’t matter to me. I’ll have a hard enough time trying to get rid of them as it is.” The man said, closing the gap between the pair. “So, what’ll it be, friend?” He said with a wink and a smile. The Half-Orc looked over the man, who looked just as haggard as he did. The man wore dirty clothes that were barely better than the rags with which the Half-Orc wore. It was funny really, that the humans should call him a barbarian and outcast him like they when a well-to-do merchant was dressed the same as him. He found a sense of irony in the whole thing, and a smile twisted his lips.

“Aye, I’ll take it.” The Half-Orc said shamefully, the smile vanishing completely from his fanged mouth. He took the pouch in his palm and hefted it. The Half-Orc watched the man as he hefted the bundle of pelts and walked towards the forest edge. “Some day, it will be me in your position, filth.” He said under his breath as the man waddled out of the clearing. The Half-Orc stood there in the growing sunlight for some time, staring at the small pouch of gold in his palm. A rustling in the bushes followed by some childish giggling broke the half-Orc from his thoughts, and before the children broke into the clearing, he was gone, melting into the forests with the dawn.

Mats Persson · 24th June 2008, 00:13

Loved this one!

yXXe · 24th June 2008, 00:29

Oh man, you got me so pumped on writing my own. However, with so little lore on the game as it is, we'll see what your sparks can trigger inside my mind.

KroqGar · 24th June 2008, 01:07

Thanks from both of you. I'll be writing more and more as lore gets released on the game.

Faidor · 9th July 2008, 07:04

Nice, just enough to get a feel for what so many MMORPGs lack. You set the mood nicely, my friend--and very well writ. Not too long, but really getting a feel for the Half Orc. Liked it.

KroqGar · 9th July 2008, 08:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faidor

Nice, just enough to get a feel for what so many MMORPGs lack. You set the mood nicely, my friend--and very well writ. Not too long, but really getting a feel for the Half Orc. Liked it.

Thanks. I was trying to get the whole "Half-Orcs are rejected from society" feel down. I thought I got it, and to get kind words like that just reinforces it. Thanks again.

Archaaz · 8th September 2008, 01:52

Well done, indeed. I think you have succeeded in you goal quite nicely. Though I realize that the lore is somewhat lacking at the moment, you should write more. You've most definitely got the knack.

22nd June 2008, 09:02	#1 (permalink)
KroqGar Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 246 Rep Power: 1	Short Story Now, I was trying to get myself in the mod for some MO, and was having difficulty writing some standard human stories as I'm not quite sure on the background yet. So, I decided to write something based on a Half-Orc trying to fit in in the world. It's not even close to my best work, it's just something I knocked out really quickly earlier on, but I hope you guys like it. “I’ll give you twenty gold for the bundle.” The words were hollow and unimpressed as the whisper left the man’s mouth. The man who said them stood underneath a large tree, turning over a bundle of furs tied tight with rough twine. His face was schooled into an uncaring expression as he idly turned over the motley collection of fox and rabbit furs. Most of them were dirt-stained or torn, and some were both. His expression changed to a mild disgust as he looked at what, a few days ago, had been a beautiful fox pelt but was now soiled with a muddy handprint. They were barely worth his original offer, let alone twenty. The only thing worthy about them was the fact that they were full pelts instead of sections of fur. “That fox alone is worth ten, and there’s three more just like it in there.” A deep-throated growl greeted the man’s offer, well spoken for such a feral being. A few paces away from the man, within easy reach of a weapon, towered a Half-Orc. A full head and shoulders taller than the man, it looked more like the man was being robbed rather than the other way around. The Half-Orc looked more like a full-blooded Orc than something with Human ancestry, which added to the oddity of the scene. A grunt followed a cloud of steamy breath as it slowly escaped the fanged maw. “It would be, if it wasn’t torn and muddied. As it stands, I’m being generous with twenty.” The man retorted quite casually. He dropped the bundle on the dew-covered grass and looked around the small, dark clearing. Turning around so that his back was towards the Half-Orc, he looked at the thin line of trees separating him and the town. A mere shout from him would bring the guards, who would be more than a match for the starving, unarmed Half-Orc. The man chuckled when he thought of the position he was in, doing charity for a barbaric Half-Orc. A plague to society, he thought. Ah well, one that gave him a steady supply of pelts, no matter what shape they were in when they got to his grimy hands. Exhaling sharply, he drew in a deep breath of the cold morning air before turning back to the Half-Orc. “Look, that’s my offer. Take it or leave it, it doesn’t matter to me. I’ll have a hard enough time trying to get rid of them as it is.” The man said, closing the gap between the pair. “So, what’ll it be, friend?” He said with a wink and a smile. The Half-Orc looked over the man, who looked just as haggard as he did. The man wore dirty clothes that were barely better than the rags with which the Half-Orc wore. It was funny really, that the humans should call him a barbarian and outcast him like they when a well-to-do merchant was dressed the same as him. He found a sense of irony in the whole thing, and a smile twisted his lips. “Aye, I’ll take it.” The Half-Orc said shamefully, the smile vanishing completely from his fanged mouth. He took the pouch in his palm and hefted it. The Half-Orc watched the man as he hefted the bundle of pelts and walked towards the forest edge. “Some day, it will be me in your position, filth.” He said under his breath as the man waddled out of the clearing. The Half-Orc stood there in the growing sunlight for some time, staring at the small pouch of gold in his palm. A rustling in the bushes followed by some childish giggling broke the half-Orc from his thoughts, and before the children broke into the clearing, he was gone, melting into the forests with the dawn.

24th June 2008, 00:29	#3 (permalink)
yXXe Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: my pillow Posts: 362 Rep Power: 1	Oh man, you got me so pumped on writing my own. However, with so little lore on the game as it is, we'll see what your sparks can trigger inside my mind. __________________ A defunct soldier is an unarmed missile.

9th July 2008, 07:04	#5 (permalink)
Faidor Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Age: 27 Posts: 46 Rep Power: 1	Nice, just enough to get a feel for what so many MMORPGs lack. You set the mood nicely, my friend--and very well writ. Not too long, but really getting a feel for the Half Orc. Liked it. __________________ Is yours an honest lament?...Most are not, you know. Most self-imposed burdens are founded on misperceptions. We - at least we of sincere character - always judge ourselves by stricter standards than we expect others to abide by. It is a curse, I suppose, or a blessing, depending on how one views it...Take it as a blessing, my friend, an inner calling that forces you to strive to unattainable heights.

8th September 2008, 01:52	#7 (permalink)
Archaaz Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 267 Rep Power: 1	Well done, indeed. I think you have succeeded in you goal quite nicely. Though I realize that the lore is somewhat lacking at the moment, you should write more. You've most definitely got the knack. __________________ "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." ~Voltaire (Explorer 80%, Socializer 60%, Killer 40%, Achiever 20%)

24th June 2008, 00:13	#2 (permalink)
Mats Persson Developer Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 135 Rep Power: 8	Loved this one!

24th June 2008, 01:07	#4 (permalink)
KroqGar Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 246 Rep Power: 1	Thanks from both of you. I'll be writing more and more as lore gets released on the game.