Runescape Stories Contest!

[Fake 113]

Sal’s RuneScape Story Writing Contest

By Finway.

 

Impossible! he thought.

The massive Dagannoth mother hurled her monstrous claw at Denan once more, and he narrowly avoided decapitation by ducking. He almost felt the hand of the creature as it passed over his brown-haired scalp. Raising his potent adamantine blade above his head, he brought it down with a hurdle of strength on the beast’s outstretched hand. The sword merely brushed against the green-tinted flesh of the monstrosity.

 

absolutely impossible!

 

He had been engaged in the struggle for nearly half an hour, and he had yet to even scratch the thick, metallic hide of his Dagannoth fiend. In the corner of the massive cavern sat Jossik, huddled against the wall. His right leg had been badly injured by the beast, but he had managed to cast a powerful fire spell that temporarily scared her off, causing her to retreat back to the water. However, it had returned, and Denan barely managed to arrive in time to fight it off.

 

Starring at the creature, Denan shuddered, wondering how such a horror could exist under a lighthouse that he had frequented through much of his life. The Dagannoth raised her two arms together once again, and slammed the ground, as if to intimidate Denan. While he remained undaunted, the hero definitely realized the danger the creature posed to him. Glancing over, the hero saw that Jossik’s countenance was full of fear. He soon observed why: a smaller Dagannoth, probably a child of the behemoth he was combating, was approaching the wounded man.

 

Understanding how defenseless Jossik was, Denan raced towards him to stave off the smaller creature. The mother Dagannoth followed him with her eyes until she realized her offspring was endangered. Just as the hero’s adamantine sword sliced open the smaller beast’s chest, the leviathan above him let out a hideous roar, shaking the very foundations of the lighthouse. As the child rushed back into the water with whimpers of pain, the mother stepped forward to resume her fight.

 

One more time, Denan thought, preparing to lash out once more, I’ll give this one last shot! In his mind, he felt that this beast was truly invincible. If he remained for too long, he would wear himself out, losing all chances of a possible escape. With that in mind, he raised his green blade up and smashed down. Oddly enough, the monstrosity’s skin color shifted to a more blue-tinted gray, but his blade once more failed to leave a mark.

 

The beast, in response to such aggression, flared out, launching both hands as if to grab Denan. Luckily, he avoided them by throwing himself behind a relatively large boulder. The best lurched out at him, but failed to reach the hero. Using this delayed time to his advantage, he slowly backed up behind a wall of the cavern’s formations, where the stalagmites would prevent the creature from getting to him too quickly. He glanced to the right at Jossik, who was still laying on the ground, several dozen yards along the wall. Although he couldn’t see the beast due to his natural wall he had discovered, he still had a good glimpse at the wounded man.

 

Fortunately for Jossik, the beast was still focusing on the combatant, and not the cripple. Despite that, the wounded man was still terror-struck. Denan knew that as soon as he left, the Dagannoth would surely feast on Jossik. Turning his head to the left, he noticed how close the ladder was. There was a chance that if he dashed out from behind the rocks, he would make it with just enough time to escape. He turned once more to Jossik, who bore a look of absolute horror on his face: he had seen Denan glance at the ladder and could easily guess his thoughts. Denan’s departure would mean certain death for him.

 

The mother-beast threw another swing, but it wasn’t even close to his location. Since she couldn’t see where he was, her blow was misguided. It would take a lucky grab for her to reach him, but even then he would retaliate, weapon in hand, to prevent him from being taken for a meal so easily.

 

After a brief moment, however, Denan realized that he couldn’t stay back there for much longer. Eventually, the Dagannoth mother would reach him. His best bet for his own survival was for her to lose interest in him and instead turn towards Jossik, the easy prey. He all but made up him mind that he would make a dash for the ladder once she turned away.

 

Several more perilous moments passed. The mother hurled two successive blows, then another, but each one failed to reach Denan, and the hero remained unscathed. Then, for a short while, she paused altogether. He could hear her turning to her left, to face Jossik.

“No!” the wounded man exclaimed as she took a step towards him, “No!”

 

The second cry was far louder than the first. Knowing that this was the last chance that he would get to save himself, Denan leapt out from behind the rock formation and ran towards the ladder. Unexpectedly, a smaller stalagmite on the ground tripped him. He stumbled and fell down, causing a terrible ruckus as his adamantine blade hit the stone beneath him.

 

Mere seconds before Jossik’s inescapable doom, the Dagannoth turned around to see Denan’s failed attempt at escape. Enraged, she raced toward him, and as she did so her hide turned to a more orange-hue. Just as he pushed himself back up, her massive right claw made a sweeping grasp at him. He parried the attack, and this time succeeded in slicing open the hand of the beast as she tumbled by. This didn’t prevent her from hurling a backhand at him the same claw, knocking him the ground and causing him to slide quite a ways.

 

Approaching him once more, the Dagannoth mother used her left arm to slash sideways at Denan. It was successful, as her worn out opponent had scarcely recovered from her last blow. This one launched him in the air several yards, and he landed not too far from Jossik. As he crashed back down to the ground, his skull impaled itself against a rock.

 

Everything went blurry. The room grew darker, and tiny bright flashes dotted his vision as he stared towards the rocky ceiling of the cavern. He could hear the roar of the Dagannoth, but it seemed distant. He no longer seemed to be in the fight; in fact, he no longer seemed to be in his own body. He began to wonder where he was, but when he remembered, he couldn’t recall why. His mind raced, and he attempted to find an explanation for his madness: what man would ever battle such an invincible beast to save another man’s life?

 

A memory flashed into his head. Engaged in it’s work of explaining such insanity, Denan’s mind brought the recollection to the forefront of his thought. Then he remembered. He remembered Larissa, remembered his task, remembered his mission…

 

“Only you can save him.”

 

She had stated it so smoothly, so matter-of-factly that for a second Denan believed it. Then the obstinacy of jealousy poured back into his soul. He opened his mouth to retaliate. “And why should I, Larissa?”

 

“Because I love him, Denan,” she replied. Her green eyes were larger than ever. No smile appeared on her face; only the look of determination. She was entirely resolute.

 

“And I love you, Larissa.”

 

Neither of the two spoke for a moment. They simply stared at each other, Larissa’s gaze piercing Denan’s desiring heart. Larissa was truly beautiful: her blonde hair, her white teeth, her flawless complexion.

 

“Jossik is injured, he can’t escape on his own and the Dagannoth will soon return. There is nothing more honorable than saving a wounded man’s life.”

 

“Yes there is,” Denan spoke, bearing a slight frown. “Fighting for one’s love - that is far more honorable.”

 

This time, Larissa didn’t reply, and Denan used this time to think upon the situation. It seemed wrong - completely wrong. Denan had sought her for years, and they had known each other since childhood. In his mind, Jossik was the one who threatened to destroy his dream - his dream of Larissa.

 

“Please, Denan, for me…”

 

“You know you’re tearing me apart!” Denan shouted as he stood up. “I longed for your hand for years, since we were children!” Here he paused. “I loved you, Larissa, and I still love you! Do you understand what you’re asking me to do to?” He sat down once more upon the rocks and buried his head in his hands, wiping away the tears as the flowed. His face was red with the emotional anguish he was suffering through.

 

Larissa immediately stood up and took several steps to the distraught adventurer before placing her hand on his shoulder. Denan looked up at her as if she was the angel Eir from the Spirit Realms, sent to take him to the heavens.

 

Larissa spoke ever- softly yet with passion. “You’re a hero, Denan, and you know it. Even if I do not think of you as a lover, I love you as a friend.”

 

“No friend would ask such a thing of me,” Denan hastily retorted. “You’re breaking my heart.”

 

Larissa thought for a moment. “When we were children,” she soon said, “you always told me how you would become an adventurer, slay many beasts, and prove your Fremennik strength,”

 

“I was a boy in love, what else could I say?” Tears began filling up his eyes once more. He even noticed that one gracefully flowed down Larissa’s cheek, bringing him some consolation. At least he knew she lamented at his own suffering.

 

“You’ve accomplished them all nonetheless. Please, as a friend and as a hero of the Fremennik tribe, save Jossik. Save him from the Dagannoth.”

 

The Dagannoth. The very mention of such a beast sent a shiver down Denan’s spine. The creatures were dangerous; it was not just difficult to fight one, it was suicide.

 

“The Dagannoth will kill us both.”

 

“It cannot; you are a great warrior, and you can slay it. Denan, please, for me!”

 

There were no good options for the hero. Denan knew that he would lose her regardless. If he refused, she would surely never speak to him again. If he decided to go through with it and die, then death would separate him from her. The most favorable option would be that he would live and succeed in rescuing Jossik, yet even then there would be a gulf between he and Larissa. She would marry Jossik and live with him in the lighthouse, and Denan would only be a friend - a friend whom they would owe gratitude to, but a friend nonetheless.

 

“I will do it,” he spoke finally, standing up once more, “only out of my love for you.”

 

He began walk past Larissa, into the lighthouse, and into imminent death.

 

“Denan,” she called off. He turned around to see her beautiful green eyes filled with tears, tears of gratefulness. “Thank you.”

 

The memory ended. Denan opened his eyes, once more being greeted by the stone ceiling atop the cavern. He could hear the Dagannoth’s footsteps approaching as his senses came back to him. He knew the reason to fight now: for Larissa, for Jossik, but above all, for honor. A hero is a hero because of the sacrifice he makes, and Denan knew that there was no greater sacrifice than this.

 

He leapt up, and noticed that his sword lay by him. He knelt down and grasped it with both hands, keeping both eyes fixed on the behemoth before him. The creature proceeded slowly this time, as if she knew that the final showdown was looming and she needed to add more drama to the intense battle.

 

Denan slowly backed up at about the same pace as she was approaching him, thus keeping the same distance between the creature and himself. He eventually was only two yards away from Jossik, who was still frozen with terror as he leaned against the wall.

 

“When I run to the right, start crawling left. I’ll distract her while you climb to the ladder.”

 

Jossik’s eyes, wide with fear, turned to Denan. “But I cannot use my leg!” he replied, his deep voice reflecting the terror he was in.

 

“You’ll have to fight through the pain. This is the only chance you’ll get at seeing Larissa ever again.”

 

At the mention of his lover’s name, Jossik perked up. He nodded his head. The two looked at each other one last time. An instant later, Denan leapt rightwards, ending the suspenseful, slow approach of the Dagannoth mother. At this sudden action she, too, began racing after him in pursuit. He tried to hide behind a smaller grove of stalagmite formations, but a blow from her claw dashed them to pieces. He continually ran, but eventually reached the edge of the water.

 

Denan quickly glanced at Jossik, who was crawling steadily along the wall. Using one of his legs and both of his arms for propulsion, he was making progress towards the ladder.

 

The Dagannoth’s skin was red this time, and the hero finally realized how strange it was that the hues of his skin were continually changing. However, he didn’t have much time to think of it before two of the creature’s hands smashed down right beside him. As he dodged the attack, he gave a potent slash across the knuckles, but his adamantine blade once more failed to scathe the tough skin.

 

Knowing he would be trapped between the water - which was infested with the mother Dagannoth’s offspring - and the maternal figure herself, Denan attempted to dash to his left to avoid such a trap. With a powerful kick to the chest, the leviathan sent the hero smashing into the wall of the underground cave. The blow sent a wave of pain across his back. Directly across the chasm was Jossik, who was ever nearing the ladder. A few more yards and he was there.

 

Denan put his arms out and tried to lift himself up, but the agony he felt was too great. He realized his back was probably broken, which amounted to a death warrant in the circumstances he was in. However, instead of focusing on himself, almost all of the hero’s attention was directed towards Jossik. He observed every crawl that the wounded man made. Jossik had to make it to safety, to make his own sacrifice worth it.

 

“Come on,” Denan muttered. “Come on, make it…” he was almost whispering to himself now. The beast was once again slowly dragging itself to the adventurer. The Dagannoth’s jaws formed something like a smile, his open mouth revealing the razor sharp teeth it possessed.

 

Denan was still attentively watching Jossik. The cripple’s right arm was now outstretched, a mere inches away from the ladder.

“…come on…”

 

The beast drew nearer, and it’s terrifying mouth was a few feet away from Denan’s face.

 

Jossik propelled himself one more time with his good leg, and his outstretched arm managed to grasp hold of the lowest rung on the ladder. His grip solidified, and he pulled himself up to the next rung, then the next, and he continued doing so, his left leg assisting his arms in dragging himself to safety.

 

The Dagannoth mother, not wasting any more time, used her claws to viciously impale Denan in the chest. Her hide was white this time, a baffling phenomenon that the hero wished he had understood. Forefront on his mind however, was Jossik. Upon his dying breath, Denan watched as the wounded man reached the top of the ladder. Jossik was safe.

 

Larissa, he thought, I hope you will be happy.

 

 

 

Meet Saradomin, By Zachary B

 

 

“Surely you’re kidding,” said the big, blonde barmaid to the shaggy haired man sitting at the counter.

 

Edd’s nostrils flared. “No, why would I be? You don’t even know me!” People were beginning to give him strange looks, and in all his emotions, he almost thought something was pulling at him.

 

Lucy recoiled. “My apologies, sir, it’s just…” she glanced around the room, looking for someone to help. She avoided his eyes while trying to think of a joke or something to appease this man. Suddenly, the words gushed out. “It’s an unreasonable voyage! You’ll die out there!”

 

He sighed and threw some coins on the table, the last in his wallet. “I can do it,” Edd said simply as he opened the door. As it shut behind him, he heard something fall to the floor and a surprised shout. The man walked past the front window proudly, but when he was out of the bar’s sight, he sat up against a nearby building and dropped his small knapsack next to him. It was a small shack that reeked of mold.

 

Maybe they’re right, thought Edd as he scratched his beard, maybe it’s never going to happen. Perhaps it was about time he went home. His long, golden hair was beginning to grease over, and his beard had never been this thick around his face before, although most would not regard it as such. Taking a deep breath, he stood up and paced along the street.

 

Edd was in the northern slums of Varrock near the border of the Wilderness. Compared to the other slums in the city, it was the safest and most well off. However, it still reeked of stale horse manure, and dirty beggars still roamed the street with comical bronze daggers. Compared to the slums in the village of Lumbridge, however, these were top class.

 

In a few days, Edd was going to hop the border and head to the Wilderness after hearing a rumor that Saradomin had been sighted in his human form. Apparently, his informant told him, he was attempting to purge the Wilderness and finally make the lands fertile. After telling his mother and father, for Edd was still only a young man of 15, they scolded him for his stupidity. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?” They shouted.

 

And it was true; he might have ended up getting himself killed. There were plenty of heartless men in the Wilderness, killing and plundering their prey for loot. When they did not let him leave, Edd ran away from his Lumbridge home. All he had was an adamant shortsword, a gift from his father, and a dragon dagger he bought with most of his money at the Grand Exchange.

 

Dismissively, Edd felt for his dragon dagger at his belt. It was gone. “Agh!” Edd shouted. As a means of showing that men should not mess with him, Edd kept the hilt of the dagger poking out of his belt. Someone must have taken it from him at the bar. He went into his knapsack, pulled out the shortsword his father had given him, and angrily charged into the bar.

 

“Who in their right mind thought they could—“he stopped talking. Dead bodies littered the bar floor. “What the…” There was not a single man standing in the bar. Lucy had fallen head first into the bar counter, her blood like a fresh coat of paint. Shattered glass covered the floor.

 

Edd slowly walked into the bar, taking it all in. If I hadn’t left, I may well have died! In the center of the bar was a glass box. It looked like it was gently dropped on the floor: Only the top side was broken. He knelt down, being careful to avoid shards of glass, and examined the box.

 

It looks like it was a container for poison gas, thought Edd. But why would someone break this here?

 

When he stood up, he felt someone pull both his hands behind his back. Edd dropped his shortsword in surprise. A split second later, he felt a cold dagger up against his throat.

 

“You shouldn’t have come back,” a hoarse voice whispered.

 

“Please, please, don’t kill me,” Edd said, feeling his bravery collapse. “I won’t tell anyone what happened here, I promise. I promise.”

 

The man holding his arms laughed. “Oh, you’ll live.” He let go of Edd’s arms.

 

Quickly, Edd swept up his shortsword and turned around. The man was underneath a dark cloak. A long brown beard stuck out of his hood, but the rest of his face was shrouded in darkness. Edd thrust the sword toward the man’s stomach, but he effortlessly slid back out of Edd’s reach. “Attacking your savior? I’m letting you go lad,” the man said.

 

Edd pulled back and put his hands to his side, breathing heavily. “Give me back my dagger,” he said.

 

The cloaked man laughed quietly underneath his hood. “Of course,” he said. He dropped the dagger, and pushed it across the floor towards Edd. Cautiously, Edd bent over to pick it up.

 

“So that’s it then?” Asked Edd. “I…can go?”

 

“Go ahead,” said the man.

 

Edd sheathed his dagger in his belt and slowly made his way towards the door. The man continued to laugh under his hood as Edd moved to the entrance. Edd pushed the door open, and a man with a granite maul was standing in front of the entrance in a dark robe.

 

Edd slashed at the man with his longsword, but after the man swung at his ribs with the maul, Edd blacked out.

 

---

“I still think you’re an idiot,” said a voice.

 

Edd was finally coming through. He didn’t know where he was, but he didn’t dare open his eyes.

 

“Listen,” said another voice, “I didn’t mean to hurt him that bad. You wanted me to knock him out, so I did.”

 

“Not with a granite maul!”

 

“Ugh. Listen, haven’t we argued about this enough? We can still get the boy back safe and sound.”

 

“They aren’t going to want him with his ribs shattered. They wanted him back unharmed.”

 

Are they talking about me? Edd thought. He was confused. They couldn’t be talking about him. His ribs weren’t shattered. Sure he felt a bit sore, but his ribs were certainly not shattered. Finally, he opened his eyes.

 

He was on the back of a coach wagon. A man was sitting in the back while the other was manning the horses in the front. The sun was setting and they were on a paved road, heading to Lumbridge it seemed. Edd closed his eyes again. Whatever was going on, he wanted to listen to these men’s conversation.

 

“What do you want us to do then?” The man in the back asked.

 

“Slit his throat while he’s asleep. Cut him up. Feed him to some goats.”

 

Edd stiffened. They must be talking about me…

 

“And lose our pay? Are you sure his parents won’t want him back, even if he is harmed?”

 

Parents? thought Edd. My mother and father want me back? And they sent these men to find me? Slowly and quietly, Edd felt for his dagger at his belt, just to make sure it was still there. It was.

 

“If we give him back, our reputation will be ruined. Better we didn’t find him at all than defy our employer’s orders, eh? Besides, we’ll get plenty of pay from the gang we killed in the bar. It was a shocking coincidence that both them and this boy were there at the same time.”

 

Edd quietly pulled the dagger out of his belt, and put his hand back on the bed, the dagger underneath it. It fit snugly and was hidden from view.

 

“Aye, I suppose. Let’s get it over with then.”

 

The man manning the horses stopped. The man in the back stood up and examined Edd. “Von…”

 

“Yes, Barth?”

 

“Did you take his dagger?” Asked Barth.

 

Suddenly Edd opened his eyes. “Von!” Was the only thing Barth shouted before Edd was at his throat with the dagger. Edd’s adamant shortsword fell from Barth’s hand, and Barth collapsed on Edd’s bed. Edd grabbed the shortsword off the ground.

 

Von turned around. Shock appeared briefly on his face, but was wiped away a second later with a look of anger. He pulled a rune longsword out of his sheath and lunged at Edd like a mad man. Edd jumped out the back door, not realizing that there wasn’t a staircase behind him. He fell to the ground. Von, still hiding under his cloak, jumped off the back and sliced at Edd with his longsword. He rolled out of the sword’s reach, and stood up only to dodge out of the way of the sword again.

 

Von was slicing at him like a mad man. Edd could only avoid the jabs just in time, and he was getting slower and slower. His shortsword was, unsurprisingly, too short to get an assault in, so all Edd could do was slide out of the sword’s grip. They were getting further and further from the coach, and Edd had no idea what was behind him.

 

Finally, Von’s longsword grazed Edd’s shoulder. He felt the blood seep from the slice, but he couldn’t feel the pain. The sword sliced at his other shoulder, leaving a similar mark. Edd barely evaded the longsword as it ran towards his stomach. However, he was not so lucky the second time. Von stabbed the longsword through Edd’s stomach.

 

Everything blurred. His entire body went numb. He heard a scream and a body drop to the ground. He wasn’t sure if he or Von shouted, but he fell to the ground shortly after.

 

---

 

Edd felt a soft featherbed underneath his back and heard the crackling of a fire nearby. Am I dead? he thought. It scared Edd to even open his eyes. Had his life passed before his eyes before he blacked out? Edd couldn’t remember.

 

“What if he never wakes up?” His mother asked anxiously.

 

“The doctor said he would be fine,” said his father, trying to sooth her.

 

“That was a village doctor,” snapped his mother, “and they don’t know anything…”

 

“He saved his life, didn’t he?” said the man with a sigh.

 

Edd tried to speak, but all that came out was some sort of shrieking, raspy cough.

 

“Edd!” Said the woman. “Get him some water, I’m going to find Dr. Marzik!”

 

Mom and dad still care… thought Edd. He opened his eyes. Edd was in an unfamiliar cabin, most likely in this village his mother was talking about. His father was fumbling around looking for water while his mother looked for the doctor. Edd’s father looked thin, and much older. It had only been a few months since Edd left, but it must have had a toll on his father.

 

His mother seemed to have grown in the opposite direction. Before, Edd’s mother was a very small and petite woman, but now it seemed that she had become quite rounder. You worried them so much, thought Edd. Both of Edd’s shoulders were bandaged up along with his stomach. Edd’s mother came back with a glass of water, which Edd guzzled effortlessly.

 

“I…” Edd didn’t know what to say. “How did you guys find me?”

 

“We’ve never stopped searching for you, Edd,” said his father. He sounded worn out, like he needed a long nap. “We sent so many men out searching for you, and we even rented out a coach ourselves to search.”

 

“And how did you guys manage to…”

 

“Your mother was the one who pulled out the bow. Once that sword went into your stomach, she sent an arrow right through his throat.”

 

“Dad, I’m…” Edd couldn’t even get that last word out.

 

“I know, son. I’m just glad to see you alive and awake. You’ve been out for three days.” His father smiled, but even that seemed like it required effort. I’ve worried him to the grave… Edd’s mother came back with Dr. Marzik, a balding man who looked too old to be doing his job. He examined him quickly and, with a meaningless pat on Edd’s back, said,”You’re going to be hurting, but you’ll live.”

 

His mother squealed with excitement. “Thank you doctor!”

 

Dr. Marzik made his way out as soon as he came in, as if he had a better place to be. Both his mother and father left the room to prepare for dinner. Edd stood up and began to walk around. I don’t feel too bad. He pushed the creaky door open and looked around the village. There were a few small wooden buildings, but the rest were shacks made out of dirt. Some stalls were dotted along the street.

 

If you want to leave, now’s your chance, Edd thought. All he had to do was bolt out of the entrance and head north for Varrock again. Instead, he walked inside.

 

I can’t worry them again. Saradomin can wait. I’m nothing without my parents.

 

It’s time to go home.

 

They stayed in the village for two weeks until Edd was ready to depart. Edd’s mother and father bought him a horse, a white mare, who he named Dawn. As they left the village, Edd rode alongside the coach, which had a red flag hanging from the top.

 

He and his parents caught up on what happened while Edd was gone, not inquiring what happened to Edd. Shortly after Edd’s disappearance, his father was elected mayor of Lumbridge, while his mother opened up a tannery. However, after Edd had been gone for more than three weeks, and those they had sent to find him found nothing, they abandoned their jobs to find him.

 

His parents searched Varrock for a month, but Edd unknowingly eluded them the entire time. After that, they went all over Misthalin and Asgarnia. The two were preparing for their own venture into the Wilderness when they found him by chance along the road.

 

Edd and his parents stopped in another village a week after their departure. They took up in a small shack. His mother was searching for an open market stall for food.

 

After minutes of silence, his father said, “You know, Edd, I still don’t understand.”

 

Edd was fashioning some logs into a shortbow. “What do you mean, dad?” he asked.

 

“Why did you leave?” He asked. “Why would you leave the safety of your own home on some silly rumor?”

 

For half a minute, Edd said nothing. His father sighed.

 

“I guess I just wanted to get away,” said Edd. “All the other boys in town were already going on adventures. One of the boys was heading to Burthrope to work under Tureal’s daughter. I guess I just wanted to have some claim to fame.”

 

“You’re still too young. There’s no way you could leave home until you finish school,” his father replied.

 

Edd stood up and went outside. His father soon followed.

 

“I think I would have been –“Edd heard the sound of hooves riding down the narrow street. He looked to his right and saw four riders donning black cloaks. They stopped in front of Edd and his father and dismounted.

 

“Give us the boy,” said the man in the front, hidden under the cloak.

 

“What?” His father put his hand to his sword.

 

“We need to return this boy to his parents. Give him to us and we’ll free your wife.”

 

“What?” Edd echoed. He looked to one of the horsemen and saw that his mother was tied to the back of his horse.

 

“We are his parents!” Shouted Edd’s father. “We’ve already found him. Y-you can’t take bring him to his mother and father! We already have him!”

 

The man in the cloak snorted. “That’s the excuse your wife used as well. Come on, you’re outnumbered four to one.”

 

“These are my parents,” said Edd. “I solemnly confirm that. Give me back my mother!”

 

Another one of the men bellowed a hearty laugh. “Is he hiding you, boy? It’s time to go back to mommy and daddy. You can’t hide forever.”

 

“I am going home,” said Edd. He pulled his father’s adamant longsword out of its sheath, while his father pulled out his rune longsword.

 

“Put your swords away,” said the man closest to his mother, “or your wife gets her head cut off.”

 

“Run, Edd!” Shouted his mother from the back of the horse. “Get away! These men will kill you!”

 

“Be quiet, woman!” Shouted the man close to the horse.

 

“Get away from here, Edd,” whispered his father. “Take Dawn and go far away.”

 

“No, dad, I can’t let you die. I’ll just go with them.”

 

“When they find that we aren’t in Lumbridge, they will kill you. Just go.”

 

Before Edd had a chance to reply, his father was lunging at the men with his sword. As if by reflex, one of the men sliced his mother’s head clean off of her neck. His father slew two of the men before the other two got the upper-hand. One of the men stuck his sword through his heart, and pulled it out in one clean motion. His father fell to the ground.

 

Edd, however, saw none of this. He was already running to the stable, and could only guess what happened by the clatter of swords and the screams from his father. When Edd got to the stable, he saw Dawn waiting for him. He breathed a sigh of relief before he looked into the shadows. A man in a black cloak was waiting there. Edd pulled out his sword, but the man had already hit him in his back with a granite maul.

 

---

 

Edd didn’t move. He was tied up in the back of a wagon, blindfolded and gagged. Only his gag was taken out for meals, which he ate in complete darkness. He thought his food might have been some stale oatmeal, but it tasted like cardboard in his mouth.

 

All he thought about was his parents, and his father’s last words. ”When they find we aren’t in Lumbridge, they will kill you.” Edd knew that these were his last days. He lost sense of time, eventually. Nothing mattered. He had nothing to live for, anyway. Everything was gone. Everything had fallen apart.

 

Most of the time he tried to sleep, but it was so hard. Eventually he started seeing things. Days from his youth, when everything was perfect and made sense. His parents were there to comfort him. After a while, he couldn’t tell if he was dreaming, or if he was going mad. Perhaps it was a little bit of both.

 

After what felt like a century, the doors to the wagon opened, the sunlight blinding him. A man in a black cloak was standing there.

 

“You’re free to go,” he said as he took the gag out of his mouth.

 

Edd didn’t say anything, as if he forgot how to speak. He just walked out of the wagon. His legs felt wobbly. The other men were laughing as if he was a new joke they had heard.

 

“W-why are you releasing me?” Asked Edd.

 

“We found out what happened, and we want to show our apologies by letting you go.”

 

Those words hit him like a breath of fresh air. After another pause, he said, “So that’s it then. I can go?”

 

“Go ahead,” said the man.

 

Edd nodded. He was tired. He walked down the road, preparing to just lie down under a tree and rest for a while. When he awoke, everything wouldn’t be right, but at least he could start putting everything together again.

 

Suddenly, he felt a shot of pain go up his leg. He looked down and found an arrow sticking out of him. Behind him, he heard howls of laughter. By instinct, Edd felt for his sword, but only his empty sheath met his hand. He started to laugh himself. He felt like a fool. He really thought they would let him go.

 

Another arrow flew into his stomach. He was still laughing as he fell to the ground. At least he thought he was. He was coughing up blood.

 

I guess you’ll get to meet Saradomin now, eh?

 

With that last laugh, he closed his eyes. For a few seconds, he was lying completely still. Eventually, the stillness took him over.

 

 

 

They Watched as the World Turned to Water, By Angels And Airwaves

 

Every day you think about how you’re going to leave this world. It bothers all of us. It scares us. In the worst case, it prevents us from living our lives to the fullest. The fear of death is what keeps us from living, and that's why I lived my life without fear. My name is Fergus, meaning “The Strength of Man”. I never liked to think that I was really physically powerful until the day that I found myself willingto carry the weight of the world for the being of one. Her name is Eavan, meaning “The Beauty of Women”.

 

I inherited the world at my apocalypse. When I had gone to face the highest evil known to man, she did not give her heart to another. It was evident that she kept her promise. I watched her, smiling down above Heaven, because my sacrifice took my spirit far higher than expected. Eavan.

 

They threw their fire onto the rooftops of towns, villages, entire cities. They sang in screams and haunted dreams of every exotic living creature, taking anyone who dared to build walls to keep them out of what was not rightfully theirs. They called themselves "The Iowerth Clan", undefeated and unconquered. I've heard stories of their conquests in my youth, and never expected that on the designated day that I would become braver, stronger, and more prevailing than anyone would ever believe in their apprehensive lives. It was all from love. Eavan.

 

As it’s been told, there are seven deadly sins. If I'm not mistaken I'd say they've gone against all seven as well as creating more. "I'm leaving today". She told me I couldn't, that I was selfish for trying to prove myself to her. I said "Eavan".

 

"I am not doing this to prove whatever thing there may be to prove; I doubt that I even can. If it keeps you and the rest of all whom we love safe, I will do this. This is far beyond anything I've done to try to win your love over and again one day at a time; this is far beyond a way to keep you in my life forever. This is what I know that I'll have to do to keep you out of harm's way. If your life will be saved from what I am to do in the upcoming days when the Underground Pass is opened to unleash a great evil upon Isafdar, I would gladly fight and gladly die." I love you. Eavan.

 

Let the Adventure Begin

 

I did not walk one step of the journey. I ran. I ran over mountains, through forests, swam across rivers. When the water was shallow, I ran. The weight of my sword and the weight of the world. I carried them both. I needed no armor, for it would not make a difference. I needed no food, for the Earth would feed me. I needed no water, for the sky and the rivers and lakes in the valley would give me more than enough. I ran through the plains, I ran through the sand. I ran through the canyons, any kind of land. I couldn't even bring myself to catch my breath; there was too big a reason for me to keep going. Eavan.

 

 

 

I spent the last night of the journey wide awake. I had not slept in days, there was no time. I was near the town where her beauty and splendor had first come to cross my path. Near a woody Nightshade on the northeastern border was where I dropped my book. She was picking Dog Violet under a towering Yew Tree. Normally we would be considered too young to fall in love, but we were too young to know that we were too young to fall in love. So we both fell. She fell for me as hard as I fell for her. Eavan.

 

We fell for each other in a simultaneous array of pure untouched sentiment. Whenever I saw her smile, or heard her laugh, and especially when she held me with her arms wrapped around me or with her and her hand in mine, tears raced down my face. They hit the ground like shooting stars, which compared to her eyes, could never shine as bright. At an early age I was able to kill loneliness. She was there, I was here, and we were there. Nothing but the gloomy holiness of death would drive us at a distance. I would never be apart from her. Eavan.

 

It was all fantastic at this point. Her parents approved of my noble position in the town of Lletya and agreed to our marriage. I was a protector. My job was to prevent terrible things from happening. Even more terrible than when the Iowerth clan betrayed the Elves and removed the Cadern Clan from the capital that we call Prifddinas. I am a descendant from one of the warriors of the age. To this day, we have never given up the fight to reclaim what is ours. I know what my real responsibility is, though. It’s to keep her safe. Eavan.

 

There was a problem that came between our love. My father would not allow it. I was a noble warrior, and she was the daughter of a common crafter. According to the social standards of the time, she would disgrace my family. It was an incredibly selfish custom. For with our marriage, her family would be known throughout Isafdar for being coupled with nobility. “What about your father?” she asked me. I spoke, “Eavan”.

 

“Love is not between a king and a queen, a princess and a prince, a lord and a lady or even a farmer and a woodsman’s daughter. Love is between two people who see past everything that the rest of the world judges the other person for. We will run. They’ll shun me for it, hate me for it, and scrutinize me for it until the day that I die. Just as long as you are with me, that is enough to give me the strength to carry the weight of their words and ignorance. You know that I love you, run away with me, Eavan.”

 

We married shortly after. Into the forest we ran. We ran through the town from the Flax field where we used to wander in the middle of the night. We couldn’t talk during the day. When we passed in the town whether I was on duty or not, we had to act as if we had never spoken before. The only time we made eye contact in public was by accident, and shortly after we quickly looked away. We were too young at that point to have control over our lives. There was nothing we could do except build up our feelings inside of us and stay up into the early dawn hours in the Flax field just talking. I would hold her. We would hold each other for hours without any sign of breaking up the bond we’ve created every time we wrapped our arms around each other. There were some occasions where we didn’t even kiss. We would just sit there in the field, feeling the soft and gentle touch of the Flax beneath our fingertips. I picked Dog Violets and spelled out her name with the petals. “Eavan”.

 

We ran for days. Through the poison wire traps and Dire Wolves protecting Lletya, we climbed through the dense forests, and jumped over Elf-made openings in the Earth which were full of spikes and shrewdly masked by masses of leaves. Falling into one would surely cause death. When she was tired, I stopped to help her catch her breath. When we so cautiously passed over snapping stick traps, I went first and held her hand as she crossed. For if the trap was to be set off, I would be the one to be injured. I would treat the wounds myself. It might seem selfish, but the truth of this all is that I would never be able to live without her. I could physically, but I would be irreparably damaged emotionally at best. It would be hard to live without Eavan.

 

Since we were both well-versed in the history of our land, we couldn’t help but stop to admire every small landmark we’d come across. We took detours on our journey across Isafdar to meet with the brave soul who would risk his reputation to marry us. Isafdar takes up most of the region of Tirannwn. It really is a glorious land. Quiet and hidden from the dangers and evils you would find in Gielinor. The air feels heavier here, yet gentler. It has a scent that you could tell has been marked by a different kind of magic that you will never find anywhere else in this world. I was in my own magical world with my own magical being, Eavan.

 

This forest that we call home has changed very little since Guthix created it in the First Age. When he arrived, he found the stone. It is perhaps the most unyielding indication of the Elder Gods and an age before the creation of Gielinor as its known today! Everything we know today has come to be because of that stone and Guthix himself. It made every rat, every dragon, every king, every thief, every magical spell, every tree, every flax leaf, and even every gold piece that everyone in the world inherits. We were in our own creation, our own world with our own inheritance. I was with Eavan.

 

We would not dare travel to the forest to the north. It was too close to the dangers of the outside world and the Underground Pass. We dared not travel to the poison waste that the Gnomes of Arposanda have created to the south which would not only damage our health, but would not be the most romantic place to be while traveling to be wedded. Instead we traveled to the ocean of the west, of which little is known to today’s generation, my generation, as well as the generation of Eavan.

 

You don’t really think about how fascinating water actually is. It’s so pure and clean in nature and probably the healthiest thing we consume. It’s just a shame how we take it for granted. In our town, water is plentiful. I would say that it’s almost like it grows on trees, but it’s far more plentiful than the timber offered by the forest. We use water every day and without it, we would not exist. If it were to disappear, we would quickly perish. When the world turns to water, we will forever be saved. We will live forever and go on to accomplish great things. Included into that dream are myself and Eavan.

 

 

For thousands of years our people have lived in this forest ever since they traveled through the World Gate in the first age. Although our people have inhabited this land for so long, they’ve only had one permanent home among our miniature comfortable towns. It is called Prifddinas, the city of crystal. Shortly after arriving in Gielinor, the Elven ancestors explored the world under the guidance of the Cadern Clan. They established great friendships with most of the world, except for the followers of Bandos. During the God Wars of the Third Age, they had no choice but to return to their little corner of the world they called Isafdar. I was in my own little corner of this already little corner of the world. With Eavan.

 

We were married in front of a gate. Islwyn, the grandson of Queen Glarial, performed the ritual. It was only proper; King Baxtorian was the man who led the Cadern Clan through Gielinor when they returned after the God Wars. Shortly after that expedition was when the Iowerth clan subjugated the city of crystals and sealed it shut to all. In the standards of the time, Islwyn could be considered the rightful Elven king and leader of the Cadern Clan. That would be sending a momentous message to my father. He wouldn’t endorse Eavan and I spending the rest of our lives as one, but an Elven King would be the one who agreed to perform the service. We were standing in front of the gate, just me and Eavan.

 

“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Eavan and Fergus in holy matrimony. Have you got your vows?”

 

“Eavan, there is nothing that I wouldn’t do for you. I will be there for you for better or for worse, in good times and bad, in sickness and in health. I will do everything in my power to rid the world of any evil that you come across. A woman as smart, crafty, gentle, strong-minded, brave, and as beautiful inside and outside like you deserves to be happy forever.”

 

“Fergus, I have never seen anything in anyone else what I see in you. You’re so brave and in all that you do I will be there to stand up with you forever. I will be the reflection in your sword, the chain links on your armor, and the sight through your helmet. You will never be on your own as long as I am here, and I know that you will struggle to keep me breathing as long as possible. If it comes to it, I know that you would willingly give your existence for mine. I hope and I pray to Seren that it never comes to that. A man as courageous and loving as you does not deserve to die for me.”

 

“I will, Eavan”.

 

From that moment, I could hear Seren through the Tower of Voices positioned in the center of the city of crystals. Eavan and I placed our hands onto the crystal walls which were created through a very intricate art of creation known as “Singing”. She was with us. She was there to make sure I would never leave Eavan alone.

 

Where I am to go from here, there is no light. That is only faith. Faith in myself and faith in the great journey that I know will come to an end. This is faith. As I approached the final length of the trip, I had come to the end of all the light that I knew when I was alive. There was faith. I knew that as soon as I jumped into the darkness that was shouting so painfully in front of me growing even deadlier by the second that one of two things would happen. I would both jump and fall on something that would catch me, or I will learn to fly. Then there was faith, the last thought passing gracefully though my mind and projecting myself out through my eyes. Eavan.

 

"I won't let you do this, we can run. We can both run. We can save ourselves and die old and happy. You can choose right now. I wish you wouldn't have to choose, but whichever path you take, I am with you. If this should be your last breath, I want to take it with you. I want to be the last gleam of light that leaves your eyes and goes on with you. I want to be on the last gasp of air that you breathe into your lungs. Wherever you go, I will be there holding your hand so tightly in mine. So happy we made it this far. I love you." And as she disappeared into all the dark that I now know, I called out. "Eavan!"

 

It sounded like a song.

 

They were faced without fear. I did not flinch or blink as I fought. I did not run or even look back, although my heart did sink. My face was straight with no visible emotion or sorrow. The only evidence of pain was the final single tear that dropped past my eye and hit the ground like a stone. With all my weight I threw my sword directly towards Lord Iowerth. At the same time I knew that it would soon be over, and I would not need the sword. I remember nothing else. The last vision that passed through my eyes was a figure of a woman, behind the shadows and figures that charged at me without holding back. It was as quick as falling asleep. The woman whom I saw, Eavan.

Voting Format

Voting will be done using SOTW (Signature of the week) style of voting. A vote will be made via the form of a private message to me (Fake) in which the Forumer will select which story they think deserves First place, Second place, and Third place. This is to make sure that all voting is done fairly and anonymously.

 

A first place vote is worth 3 points.

A second place vote is worth 2 points.

A third place vote is worth 1 point.

 

Rewards

First place will receive a signature and a custom member title for two months!

Second and third place will each receive a signature and a custom member title for one month!

 

We hope everyone has fun participating in this contest!

 

Edited September 2, 2011 by Fake

[Kemosabe 194]

I'm considering joining this. Been doing creative writing in English recently and I'm enjoying it.

[Fake 113]

I'm considering joining this. Been doing creative writing in English recently and I'm enjoying it.

I hope you join :( And the rewards aren't too shabby either :D

 

 

Also, in the near future just incase I run out of PM space (Which I doubt will happen because I deleted alot of messages) don't worry and I'll either delete some more space or tell you where to send it through the topic.

Edited August 3, 2011 by Fake

[Twist of Fate 290]

I am definitely doing this.

[Sofee 86]

I'd do this if I wasn't so filled up with homework, I'll be looking forward to this :(

[Twist of Fate 290]

I'd do this if I wasn't so filled up with homework, I'll be looking forward to this :(

I should be reading a book for college, but instead I'm writing a 3,500 word story.

[Fake 113]

I'd do this if I wasn't so filled up with homework, I'll be looking forward to this :D

I should be reading a book for college, but instead I'm writing a 3,500 word story.

I'm glad your excited but I wouldn't want to you to delay yourself from your college duties. :(

[Twist of Fate 290]

Pshh I have a month until college, going to California to start a music career in 10 days, and all the time in the world right now to write an epic story. :( I got rusty with writing so this helps a lot lolol

[Prinz 102]

Because I love you so much, Fake, I'll join :(

(BTW this love also comes with you updating Rise of Darkness gogogogogogo)

 

Alright, let's see what I'll whip up.

[_life 1]

Count me in on this, Fake.

 

It's good to see some Story Mat promotion too.

[Dimosthimise 120]

I'm good at writing about death... never done it for runescape though. If I find the spare time, I might enter.

 

Good luck to all who enter. :(

 

~Dimos

[Helm Lardar 77]

I am totally joining this!

 

Good luck all :( .

[Guitarguy 644]

I'll submit something if I'm not too lazy :(.

Edited August 3, 2011 by Guitartree

[Gocart 41]

I'll write one just for the fun of it, doubt i can beat some of you literary demi-gods but i'll try my best!

 

~Cart

[hlow 2]

This sounds fun. I'll write something up quickly before I leave for vacation.

[Admiral 294]

I have a great idea, lets hope i'm not too lazy. :(

[rawrgoyle 8]

Oh, you people are so on.

 

What's our length requirement/limit?

[Admiral 294]

Oh, you people are so on.

 

What's our length requirement/limit?

Number 6 under 'Rules'

 

Yes i'm too lazy to quote

[rawrgoyle 8]

Ooh! Thanks. Good, good.

 

I am going to curb-stomp y'all so hard. And yes, I am smack-talking on a Runescape forum.

 

(Totally kidding! I cannot wait to read all the entries, though.)

[Guitarguy 644]

This seems to be bringing life to the RuneScape Stories forum very well :(. I'm surprised to see so many entries.

[delred 3]

Hopefully this brings more people to the Runescape stories section. :(

[Twist of Fate 290]

Hopefully this brings more people to the Runescape stories section. :(

Pretty much. When I've written like one piece in the past year, you know there's something wrong.

[789it789 0]

Sounds interesting, I might try...

[Po22 0]

Well well well...This seems interesting.

[marbl 0]

huh cool..