Entertainment - Fiction

If you were asked what makes a great story, how would you respond? "A good story has great grammar, characters that I can identify with, a captivating plot, and a thrilling villain." Yes? No. A story is much more then words, it is man's way of trying to understand the depths of his or her own humanity. A hero is a writer's dream of what he wishes he could be, a villain represents all he wishes he wasn't. The plot is a trip down a writer's memory lane and when it gets emotional know that the first tears to fall on the pages were the author's. So, to answer the question, a great story is one that is real. Any other kind of story is just words.

- Master Neverdead

What I See - By: CxksleiI look and look,
Seeing only questions,
With only one answer,
No matter how fast I chase it,
It always becomes faster,
And better hidden amongst,
The nature we believe to be life,
One answer is the answer to all,
But no matter how hard we search for it,
It will always slip away,
No matter how close we get,
It only gets further away,
Is the world we live in merely a lie,
Or is this true,
Is this only an illusion,
Are our minds playing tricks,
On ourselves,
Unless we see what we want to see,
We refuse to acknowledge it,
Yet we know it is there,
And the only way to reach the answer,
To all we know,
Is to let our minds see,
That which our eyes,
Refuse to let use see.

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Sacred Blood - Part One - By: Master Neverdead The sun never dies over Gielnor, and all of Runescape enjoys perpetual sunlight and season-less years. But some places are better without light. The barracks inside Ardougne Castle is one of those places. A tall, burly, and very handsome Knight of Ardougne opened the large wooden door to this dark chamber, his steel boots echoing in the stone room. The sound continued as he strode to the covered windows and pushed the shutters open. "Alright boys! Up and suited in fifteen!" He paused a moment and waited. Instantly men shot out of their beds and tried to wipe the sleep from their eyes. "Assemble in the courtyard, we've work to do today!"

Thirty-five men responded in unison. "Yes Sir!"

Thirteen minutes later the battalion commander walked amongst the uniform ranks, inspecting his unit's armor and weapons. "You all look damn fine, damn fine indeed." After making a few passes he stood in front of them. All of the men present wore their helmets, except for the Captain. He always said he liked men to see him when he spoke. "Do you know what day it is boys?" No one responded, they knew the drill. "Today is West Aroudgne duty." Some of the Knights slumped a little in their stance. "I know, I know, it's absurd but someone has to scrape them walls. Grab a knife, shovel, and bucket and assemble at the northeast corner in thirty-minutes. Dismissed!"

The men, with a marked lack of enthusiasm, turned and went about their assigned duty. Just as Captain Jikdur was about to follow suit another Knight stepped out of a doorway. "Jikdur!"

"Well if it ain't Pollocks himself. How have you been?" Jikdur smiled big and approached his friend.

"Jikdur, I'm afraid I don't have time to catch up. Can we talk?"
The Captain began to protest, "I can't I-"

Pollocks cut him off, "Have to scrape the ivy from the walls? I've already spoken with Arjunctor, I have permission to reassign you."

Captain Jikdur hated being separated from his unit, but by the look on his friend's face, he knew something was up. "Alright, tell me then, what's my assignment?"

"Official leave of absence." He responded calmly.

Jikdur frowned, "On who's authority? I've been an exemplary servant to King and Country!"

"It's not like that my friend. You're character is not at stake." He paused, this one would hit Jikdur where it hurt. "You need to go to Relekka."

The Captain's expression changed from a look of anger to a look of confusion and sadness. No matter how far I run. "Poll, you know I was exiled from there. Even if I did want to go back they'd never let me set foot in that city again!" Would they?

"Jikdur listen to me, its Reiyan. She came here and spoke with me."

"What!?" Jikdur nearly screamed. After collecting himself he said in a ditressed whisper, "She was here? In this very city?"

Pollocks glanced around, making sure that no one was listening in, "Yes, and she told me that she loves you." Jikdur began to shudder as tears came to his eyes. Pollocks felt his eyes getting moist as well. He had always felt sorry for his comrade's dilemma. "Listen to me, gather yourself okay? You know what seeing her would mean." Does he care?
"I know." Jikdur wiped his eyes and asked quietly, "Why did she come?"

"Something is going on up there. She didn't stay long and we didn't have time much time to speak, but she kept repeating, 'If only Jikdur were here, everything would be better.' I got her to calm down and she told me that someone has been raiding the city. The Fremmenik council fears an invasion of their lands."

"They can fight it, they always have."

"No, my friend, no they can't. Their warriors are dying, their game is becoming scarce. Even the fish are less plentiful in the ocean and rivers. Someone is trying to feed an army, that much is evident."

"Why me?" Jikdur asked a few moments of silence.

"Because you are the only Fremmenik who has left the fold, only you can look at this without letting superstition get in the way."

"Why not take your own army?" Why am I making excuses? I love her. Don't I?

"Because, Jikdur, you are the only outsider who gives a damn about Relekka. The Knighthood won't help, at least not until the threat is on us."

Jikdur took a long moment but finally replied quietly, "Ok, I'll do it."

Look for Part 2 in the second issue!

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