forums.rs

Forums

Noobdom

Quick find code: 49-50-348-61352301

of 114
Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
You're right about reading it out loud... O_o Maybe because it's geared towards a younger audience, so the authors keep the language simple (sometimes too simple...).

Nope, no Tigerstar/Tigerclaw unfortunately. I'll include Tigerclaw in the sequel, which I'm working on. But I'm only on chapter 1... :|

24-Aug-2010 19:23:45 - Last edited on 25-Aug-2010 00:35:43 by Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Chapter 16 Saving Father Aereck

Lumbridge doesn’t look like Lumbridge any more. Every tree is withered and dead. The grass is yellow and parched. The river that runs through Lumbridge has turned a nasty shade of green. It looks more and more like the wilderness as we slowly walk toward the Lumbridge Castle walls.

“Lumbridge has been abandoned. Duke Horacio and Hans…everyone is gone,” murmurs Bluestar reflectively. “Maybe Father Aereck has been moved somewhere else too.”

Moved…what if the inhabitants of Lumbridge castle haven’t been moved? What if they had been killed? I shake the thought from my head. “There’s no harm in checking.”

“Actually, there is. If we die, we’ll end up in the wilderness.”

A fine time to point it out. When I’m already scared out of my wits. As we approach the church, my ears pick up a plaintive female voice.

“You have to let him go,” the voice murmurs.

“Bah, I can do whatever I want,” replies a harsher voice. The monk of Zamorak’s. The monk then exclaims, “Hey, don’t you point that staff at me!”

Raising an eyebrow, Bluestar shoots a look at me and then rushes into the church. Like an idiot, I run after him to find the angry monk of Zamorak face to face with a young woman with honey-colored hair and warm, green eyes. Dressed in blue wizard robes, she looks quite harmless. She’s holding a staff with an amber stone at the very tippy-top though. Her sudden smile at our appearance makes me blush.

“Please, you must convince Igor to free Aereck,” she says in her mellifluous voice. Wait a second…

“Igor?” Bluestar and I both question.

With a sigh, she gestures to the monk. “He’s Igor. I’m Catgirl297.” Her jade eyes flicker with curiosity. “Who are you two?”

“Bluestar,” my buddy answers.

I give a lame wave and mutter, “I’m Freak449.”

“Freak’s a strange name,” muses Catgirl. Her expression grows apologetic. “Oh, not that it’s a bad name. That’s not what I--”

24-Aug-2010 20:40:03

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“It’s okay,” I assure her. One of her hands darts to clasp the emerald of her necklace. She looks reassured.

The monk suddenly moves forward. Bluestar steps between him and Catgirl, who looks towards the two with bemusement. In a deadly whisper, the monk of Zamorak says, “The three of you better get out of here.”

“You will free Father Aereck first,” replies Bluestar.

“I will kill all of you first,” retorts Igor. The monk of Zamorak. I can’t believe his name is Igor. So random.

“Why can’t we be reasonable?” grumbles Catgirl. I agree with her. Better to take the old bloke peacefully.

Frowning, I pose a question to Igor, “Why do you need to keep Father Aereck chained anyway? He’s just an old man.”

Though the monk opens his mouth to reply, no answer comes. Igor thinks for a moment. Bluestar sighs. I let my gaze wander the darkened church and wonder how Catgirl ever mustered the courage to come in here alone. I have Bluestar to keep me safe and sound… The monk is still thinking.

Finally, I put in, “There’s no reason for keeping him, is there?”

“Not really,” agrees Igor, “but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you have him.”

“He’s not a possession,” Catgirl points out. Adjusting her cerulean robes, she nods towards the ceiling. “I’m going to go see how Father Aereck is doing if you don’t mind.”

We all shrug and watch her go. My eyes lock briefly onto her staff until it’s gone upstairs with its owner. What good does hitting people with sticks do? Unless…it’s for what Redseed and Fireheart told me was magic. Yes, they had said something about staffs.

24-Aug-2010 20:40:52

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
I hear a sudden thump that jolts me from my thoughts. What…? The monk is punching (futilely) at Bluestar who’s dodging all the blows with ease. The high level raises a leg perhaps to kick the daylights out of the monk but instead he brings it down on the floorboard. One side of the board (where the monk happens to be standing) flies upward, throwing Igor unceremoniously into the altar. Zamorak’s wine in its happy, untouchable jug soaks the startled monk.

“Why didn't you finish him off?” I can’t feel any pity for Igor. Bluestar had only delayed the inevitable.

“Finish him off?” repeats Bluestar with an almost guilty look at me. “The monk’s helpless.” Then, a fiery blast knocks my protector off his feet and face first onto the ground. AAAH! One of Igor’s hands is swathed in a magical flame. In the other hand he has small gray stones with various colorful symbols.

Oh no. Bluestar’s out like cold turkey. The monk of Zamorak’s crimson eyes snap to me. He raises one hand: the one with the fireball. Teeth gritted, the monk moves his hand back as if preparing to throw a baseball. To run or not to run. That is the question.

“You guys, I figured out a way to get Father Aereck--What’s going on here?” After a graceful descent from the ladder that led to the upper levels of the church, Catgirl surveys Igor with dismay. Behind her stands Father Aereck, pale and haggard, but alive.

“Freak, why must you persist in this foolish mission?” rasps the old priest.

Well, I never! I come here to save him, and he calls my mission foolish! “I guess I’m foolish,” I reply wryly.

“You must all die! Starting with Freak!” The monk of Zamorak draws attention to himself again.

What? How does he know my name? “How do you know my name?”

Igor sighs. “Father Aereck just said it, noob.”

24-Aug-2010 20:42:00

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Noob again. What's so bad about noobs anyway? I flinch when Igor raises his hand again to hurl the fiery ball of doom at me. Glancing towards the ground, I see that Bluestar is still unconscious. He better not be…No, he can’t be dead! Strangely, the thought of Bluestar’s death puts more despair in me than the thought of my own death by fireball. I make a dash towards Bluestar…

A green blaze, which I catch out of the corner of my eye, collides with the monk’s fireball. Both fizzle away, so I reach Bluestar without my head on fire. The source of the green blaze, I realize, is Catgirl, who’s now brandishing her staff, an Earth staff, like a warrior wields a sword.

“Thank you,” I say and shake my buddy mercilessly. After the third shake, Bluestar groans and blinks up at me. Feeling sentimental, I hug him even though he hasn’t had the chance to sit up properly.

“Hey, Freak. Nice to see you too. Now please stop hugging me.”

Meekly, I obey and release him. He looks relatively okay though his clothes have been charred. Those honest, blue eyes watch me with amusement, which quickly turns to concern as the monk of Zamorak prepares to throw more fireballs at another target: Catgirl.

“Interfering little girls ought to be taught a lesson!” snarls Igor.

“Little girl indeed.” Catgirl smiles and with an expert flick of a hand, deflects the monk’s spell. I’d never seen magic with my owns eyes. It’s like fireworks. Pretty colors…A nudge from Bluestar snaps me from the distracting colors.

“We should get Father Aereck out of here,” he whispers. The magic battle is furious now with spells flying here and there; purple and red and green and blue streaks of power make the entire church tremble. Catgirl is holding her own. In fact, the monk seems to be blocking her attacks rather than launching spells of his own.

24-Aug-2010 20:43:15

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“Will he come with us?” I question. To my eyes, the old man looks too frail to move a centimeter. Plus, he has that stubborn and fierce look on his face that makes me wonder if Father Aereck wants to leave the scary church at all.

“Drag him then,” says Bluestar with such savageness that I stare at him. “There’s no time to be nice.”

“Shame. I like nice.” The fierce set of my companion’s face reminds me of his father’s. I nod. Making sure Igor is still preoccupied, I sneak over to the priest and offer my arm. Father Aereck stares at it.

“Let’s get you out of here,” I say cheerfully. Meanwhile, Bluestar is steadily making his way behind the monk of Zamorak; for what reason, I’m not quite sure.

“No."

"Please,” I beg. Ironic how I’m begging him to leave when he should be begging for us to save him…

“All is lost.”

“We won’t go places with that attitude,” I mutter. “There’s a concept called optimism, Father. Ever heard of it?”

"No."

Okay. That’s it! No more Mr. Nice Freak. I snatch the priest by the arm. Father Aereck’s outraged cry diverts Igor’s attention. Before the monk can send a spell my way, he’s knocked out by Catgirl’s spell: a particularly dazzling green bolt that got him on the head.

While the monk crumples, Bluestar disappointedly puts down the empty jug that once held the wine of Zamorak. “Darn. I wanted to crack him one over the head.”

Catgirl giggles at this and then smiles at Father Aereck and me. “Come on, Father. Let’s leave this place. It’s better outside…though…”

“Not by much,” I finish.

The four of us leave the church without a further word. Catgirl’s smile turns anxious. “ I don’t even recognize Lumbridge anymore.”

“Lord Luxon--” I stumble over the name “--has taken over.”

“Who?”

“Lord Luxon,” repeats Bluestar. “Zamorak’s Chosen One.”

“We’re fighting him.” How useless that information seems. Father Aereck doesn’t even stir at my words. No protest. No glee. Nothing. I guess days of being tied to a bell isn’t healthy for you.

24-Aug-2010 20:44:36

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
“This Lord Luxon’s not immune to magic, is he?” Catgirl twirls her staff like a baton. A second later, the staff clatters to the ground. “Oh…oops.”

“No, he’s not." Bluestar picks up the staff, hands it to her and looks at me. I look at him. Magic…

“The fight would probably cost me lots of runes,” continues Catgirl. “Besides, mages are virtually helpless in hand to hand combat. I’d be no help.”

Father Aereck mutters something. Then Bluestar laughs. “Quite right. The combat triangle.”

Huh? I guess my blank look did the talking for me.

“Melee fighters are excellent at hand-to-hand combat. They’ll usually beat up any mage…unless the mage is far away from its target. Then magic is deadly to melee. Rangers have several advantages over mages. Melee prevails against range. It’s a triangle.”

I try to picture it inside my head. Yep. A triangle.

“We will certainly need your help, Catgirl,” pronounces Bluestar.

“I’ll get my friends to help,” Catgirl says eagerly. “Many of them are mages too. If Lord Luxon is responsible for this--” she gestures around the darkened landscape “--he should pay for it.”

“He will,” replies Bluestar. “He will.”

A shudder runs up my spine for no reason. More cheerily, I say, “I’ll add you to my Friends list. We’ll contact you when we need you.”

Emerald eyes consider me kindly. “I’m not sure what I’m getting into, but there’s no doubt that I’ll be fighting for a good cause. So, Father Aereck, please don’t lose hope. Bluestar, Freak…for all of our sakes, never lose hope.”

Clearing the lump in my throat, I nod. Hope. So potent for such a small word.

~End of Chapter 16~

24-Aug-2010 20:46:07

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
Chapter 17 Dawn’s Army

“Dawn’s coming.”

“But it’s broad daylight. How can dawn be--”

“Dawn719," clarifies Fireheart. In the Varrock Palace’s dining hall, she and I are watching Father Aereck snooze; he’s sitting upright in a chair with a hand under his chin and his elbow on an arm of the chair. Poor guy. He looks exhausted even when he’s asleep.

“With her recruits?” I ask. We had been debating whether to wake Father Aereck or not to find him a proper bed.

“Her army rather.” Fireheart is distracted by Bluestar’s entrance. Like the lovesick boy he converts into regularly at the sight of her, Bluestar turns red before stuttering “hello.”

“Uh…I just wanted to talk to Freak for a moment or two,” he adds.

“Take him for the rest of the afternoon if you want. It only takes one person to keep an eye on a sleeping priest after all.”

Bluestar drags me out of the room and murmurs, “Hamlet’s been asking for you.”

“You yanked me from the room to tell me that?”

“I don’t want to be left alone with her. My mouth doesn’t function around her,” Bluestar mumbles miserably. “Besides, I turn pink every time she looks at me. What must she think? I know! She thinks I’m an idiot!”

“She never said you’re an idiot,” I point out. “Of course, she doesn’t talk about you at all.”

My buddy gives an agonized groan, and I realize my words had been tactless. After patting his shoulder in a vague attempt to comfort him, I slip from the corridor to outside Varrock Palace where Hamlet is twirling an adamant two-hand sword. At my entrance, he drops the weapon…nearly on my foot.

“Sorry,” he chuckles and picks up the sword to sling it over his left shoulder. “Gorgonwrath has been asking after you. He wants a word with you.” Hamlet gestures with his index finger to down the hallway and takes his leave, humming as he goes.

25-Aug-2010 00:20:46

Fireheart449

Fireheart449

Posts: 1,028 Mithril Posts by user Forum Profile RuneMetrics Profile
For once, Gorgonwrath seems almost afraid. He hesitates and then when he tries to speak, his words are lost on their way to his mouth. “Sir, we were all training in the dummy area when…a man strolled in.”

I blink. “A man just strolled in…”

“He dragged away four members of our unit and said he’ll be back for more of us,” relates Gorgonwrath.

Dread fills my belly again, making it incredibly hard to think. “Did he give you his name?”

“Wolfbane23, and he wanted me to give you a message.”

Message, huh! It would be just like him to rub in my face that he’s kidnapped my recruits! “Well, you’ve done your job. We’ll--”

“No, I haven’t given you his message yet,” interrupts Gorgonwrath. “He says he’ll meet you at the shrine of Zamorak in Lumbridge two nights from now. Then he’ll give up the people he took.”

ARG! WOLFBANE! Truly, I’m not angry at that accursed, fancy-haired Wolfbane, but at myself. I’m trembling like the coward I am! To go back to the terrible Lumbridge would take courage that I don’t have. I don’t want to die! I don’t want to end up caged like those other noobs and work away for Lord Luxon’s benefit! Composing myself, I ask, “Am I allowed to bring anyone with me?”

“No." Gorgonwrath grimaces. “If you do, he’ll kill every single one of them. He’s got Aurora. You can’t let her end up in the wild. The mining work…”

…is far from suitable work for a graceful girl like Aurora. Maybe Dawn might have been able to stand the work and (meanwhile) scare the life from her oppressors, but Aurora isn’t that type of girl. She would be helpless and abused.

“Who else did Wolfbane snatch?”

“Gnokhead, Goldeneye and Saint Loren.”

My heart’s decided then. Well, it had decided for me ages ago… I’ll go and meet Wolfbane alone. No matter that he might kill me. Might kill me? More like, he will kill me. “Thank you for not panicking, Gorgonwrath. Don’t tell anyone, and those who already know…make sure they don’t say a word about it either.”

25-Aug-2010 00:22:04

Quick find code: 49-50-348-61352301 Back to Top