The Crossroads

Okay, so at camp I took a fantasy writing course and here's chapter 4 of the story. I have written chapter one and chapter four, along with a few other scenes and have written/sketched designs for characters and places. I also pent a total of almost ten hours making a fully detailed map of the Continent. My friend Jordan, who was also in the class, and I swapped art styles for character illustrations. Anyway, here's chapter four of my story. I hope you enjoy it!          

The Crossroads
               

Picture- The 5 Companions by Jordan Kesslar  (bottom of page)

My companions and I walk along the cobbled roads of the Pirani countryside outside Solandas, the capital city of Piran, the largest country in The North. Currently my little group of oddball companions includes myself, Lyssa Thenivar, The leader of our group and Pirani thief. Caitlin Darien, The Savanin Assassin who has an odd obsession with frying pans and cards. And Anallan Layvallen, the anti social Anindari mage who really does need to work on every time we’re at an inn not sitting in the corner with a drink and piles of old papers and dusty fragile magic books. The three of us are heading to Rifken to get supplies and inquire about Princess Ava, the king's daughter who was kidnapped. We then will turn south to The Darien Woods to see if we can strike a deal with the Kanin elves who live there. We continue walking further along the road and then stop suddenly taking in the sight before us. A burning carriage lays toppled over to our right and dead bandits lay strewn about the road and grass in front of us.Directly in front of us we see a large bandit, with brown short hair and a scar down his face. he must have been over six feet tall I’d say. Armed with hide armor, a wooden shield and a steel longsword, engaged in combat with a dwarf. Huh, you don’t see many dwarves around here, they tend to stay in their mountains and fortresses. The brown haired dwarf lunges forwards and stabs their attacker in the heart with a killing blow. They then withdraw their sword, the steel gleaming with dark red blood, wipe the blade and sheath it back in the scabbard. The dwarf turns on a heel and faces us. Its a women, even more rare. She stares at us as we approach. We introduce ourselves, I go first “umm, hello. I'm Lyssa, Lyssa Thenivar and this is Caitlin Darin and Anallan Layvallen.” I say companions. Ana waves and caitlin nods. I turn back to the dwarf “what is your name?” I ask as politely as I possibly can. “My name is Sabelle, Sabelle Vakari. Sab to my friends, I am from Dol-Nashan, The City of Stone. I've been wandering for weeks after...after I -” She trails off. “After you, what?” Caitlin asks, Sabelle replies “well, I kind of got kicked out by my parents and they disowned me because they found out about my secret Girlfriend, Tarya is her name. Some stupid squire ratted me out.” The three of us gasp “ oh my gosh that’s horrible how could any parent do that?! Do you want to come with us?” I ask. She smiles and nods “Yes, I would like that very much. Thank you Lyssa, as well as you two back there. Where to now?” I show Sabelle my map “ok, we’re currently here at the crossroads. We head south to the Darien woods where the Kanin elves dwell, we’re to ask if they can spare anyone to our cause.Now what is our cause? Well if you haven't’ heard Ava, the princess, King Threinen’s daughter was kidnapped by the Evil Pryftainian wizard by the name of Marien. He has her locked in a tower somewhere around here.” I say pointing to the map. “Our job is to get her back.” Sabelle nods “let's go.” And we head south to seek the Kanari of the Darien Woods, a place few who have ventured in have ever come out of. For the Kanin are not like their Kyshin or Anindar cousins, their experts with both sword and bow, some with magic as well. They always see you before you see them. And have a reputation for being less wise and far far more deadly…” Are you ready for an adventure?

About the Author:

Maxh Stock also known as M, is from Massachusetts and has what could be classified as a borderline obsession with anything Fantasy...Ok, maybe cut the borderline, it's just a total obsession. Dragons, elves, magic and Knights are just a few of the writers favorite things. They can’t even count how many times they’ve seen Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit (Did I forget they are a a total Tolkien Nerd?) As well as being a writer, the author is also an avid videogame player and could name numerous facts about a number of medieval and fantasy games, some of which have inspired some of the characters or places in this story and is a bit of an amatur artist specilizing in elves, original character illustration, dragons, fantasy illustrations and Fan Art.