June 19, 2003, 16:50
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#1
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Emperor
Local Time: 22:05
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: As cuddly as a cactus, as charming as an eel.
Posts: 8,196
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The Trappings of War: Volume XVI
The Trappings of War: Volume XVI
An UnOrthOdOx View of the Glory of War
The crew woke me at the first sign of land, and as I peered over the blue expanse I could see in the distance the cliffs of what must be Gathering Storm’s border.
I sat in contemplation. What would I do? I had heard many a story of what few Voxian survivors there were. Stories that were obviously the creation of the minds of men who had been out foxed in battle. Ten feet tall fire breathing chickens. Ha! I was not fool enough to think that such a thing could truly exist. Still, my own experiences with my own dragon had taught me enough to know that there is always SOME truth to such legends and I began to wonder if it had been folly not to bring along a ballista with me.
No, I told myself, this was intended to be a peaceful voyage, I would treat it such. Perhaps my experience in Legoland would aid me far better than any weapons of war.
I watched the coast as our Galley rounded the coast and sat in amazement as I watched the cliffs give way to hills and eventually melt into dunes of sand. This seemed to be an inhospitable land. It must also produce a very hardened breed of men to live in this climate I thought to myself. A second later, I was thinking it would also produce a hardened breed of Chicken.
Our galley sailed along the coast in search of a safe place to land and we finally settled on landing at the mouth of a river figuring that it would provide faster access to the center of Gathering Storm if we were to sail upstream. No sooner did we land, however, than we were met by 5 giant chickens that seemed to have appeared from nowhere.
“UnOrthOdOx!” Boomed a voice from atop one of the lead Chickens. “Disembark and we will allow the Galley to leave in peace.”
The warrior inside of me heard this as a challenge, and instinctively I began to tense. A quiet murmuring came from the crew and I glanced behind to see 3 galleys flying the Gathering Storm colors had also sailed around to cut off our exit. Where had they come from? And how? This was clearly a fight that could not be won.
“Very well” I replied “but first I must know your name and intentions.”
“My name is Theseus, Co-General of the Armies of the Storm and my intentions are none of your concern. It is the will of the Gathering that you should be brought before the council and allowed to speak. That is all that need concern you.”
I cursed silently under my breath. I had been too long removed from the diplomatic scene. It was beginning to come back to me now. Gathering Storm was ruled by consensus. I fully suspected that Theseus would have liked nothing more than to slaughter us right there and then. He was bound to follow the will of the Gathering, however. I even wondered if his position as General had any true power. I found it much more likely that he would be required to first seek the approval of the Gathering before implementing any military action as well.
“Very well, I understand.” I said as I disembarked and ordered the crew to leave without question.
As the riders approached, I saw that one of the chickens was lacking a rider and I immediately knew it was intended for me. These people rode these chickens as other men do horses. I wondered only for an instant what the advantage of doing so might be, then I remembered the cockfights back in Imperia. Crude methods of entertainment that most men shied away from, it was common for the owners of the birds to arm the feet of the chickens with tiny barbs. Looking at the size of these chickens, a similar armament would rip through a man in no time. As I mounted one of the riders pulled up along side my mount.
“Greetings UnOrthOdOx, It is a pleasure to finally get the chance to meet you in person. I hope that your trip was a pleasant one and that your stay here will be equally productive.”
I might have never seen his face before, but the style of his speaking was without question. “Zeit!? Wow, I would not have expected to see you in person so soon. You are somewhat shorter than I pictured you.”
“And you are somewhat larger than I would have thought for an Ambassador. Now, I regret to inform you that I must ask you to wear this hood as we ride. I am sure you are well aware that our map has been kept a secret and we fully intend to keep it that way. This is not meant as disrespect and I am sure you can understand our position.”
“Sure, zeit. You guys must do what you feel is right.” As if I were in a position to argue the matter…
After what seemed to be days of riding, we had stopped and I was allowed to remove the hood only to find that we were in some sort of oasis and that it was getting dark quickly. Not much was spoken as we ate and drank that evening before finally the day gave way to night and I drifted off into a fitful sleep.
Last edited by UnOrthOdOx; June 19, 2003 at 20:29.
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June 19, 2003, 16:55
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#2
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Emperor
Local Time: 22:05
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: As cuddly as a cactus, as charming as an eel.
Posts: 8,196
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If there is any member of GS especially wishing to be portrayed, please PM me. I can't get to everyone, but Ill try to get anyone in I can.
Ill try to get around to all the teams eventually as well.
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June 19, 2003, 18:29
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#3
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Emperor
Local Time: 00:05
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The warmonger formerly known as rpodos. Gathering Storm!
Posts: 8,907
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__________________
The greatest delight for man is to inflict defeat on his enemies, to drive them before him, to see those dear to them with their faces bathed in tears, to bestride their horses, to crush in his arms their daughters and wives.
Duas uncias in puncta mortalis est.
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June 19, 2003, 18:56
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#4
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Emperor
Local Time: 04:05
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Location: All Glory To The Hypnotoad!
Posts: 4,223
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Well done. 
I hope it doesn't seem too pedantic of me to point out that you misspelt border in the first sentence.
__________________
If I'm posting here then Counterglow must be down.
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June 19, 2003, 19:23
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#5
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King
Local Time: 05:05
Local Date: November 2, 2010
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Location: Someplace
Posts: 1,327
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UnO- very nice piece of work,
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Save the rainforests!
Join the us today and say NO to CIV'ers chopping jungles
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June 19, 2003, 19:31
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#6
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Deity
Local Time: 22:05
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 11,289
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Quote:
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Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Well done.  
I hope it doesn't seem too pedantic of me to point out that you misspelt border in the first sentence.
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That's how its spelled in Warmongese. We don't need no stinkin' chicken spelling.
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June 19, 2003, 20:05
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#7
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Emperor
Local Time: 22:05
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: As cuddly as a cactus, as charming as an eel.
Posts: 8,196
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Quote:
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Originally posted by FrustratedPoet
Well done.  
I hope it doesn't seem too pedantic of me to point out that you misspelt border in the first sentence.
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I the spell check don't catch it, neither will I.
The Gazette had an unintentional ongoing joke of mispelleded wordz...
Now to find a dictionary...pedantic....
I also see the filter cut out my reference to c o c k fighting...
Last edited by UnOrthOdOx; June 19, 2003 at 20:12.
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June 19, 2003, 20:14
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#8
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Emperor
Local Time: 00:05
Local Date: November 2, 2010
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: The warmonger formerly known as rpodos. Gathering Storm!
Posts: 8,907
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Try it as one word.
__________________
The greatest delight for man is to inflict defeat on his enemies, to drive them before him, to see those dear to them with their faces bathed in tears, to bestride their horses, to crush in his arms their daughters and wives.
Duas uncias in puncta mortalis est.
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June 19, 2003, 20:24
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#9
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Deity
Local Time: 22:05
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 11,289
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Quote:
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Originally posted by Theseus
Try it as one word.
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Yeah, "cockfighting" refers to fighting roosters. As two seperate words it doesn't seem to have involved chickens....................
Shla Whap!
Son of a........
Ewwww. That's gotta hurt.........
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June 19, 2003, 20:26
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#10
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Emperor
Local Time: 22:05
Local Date: November 1, 2010
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: As cuddly as a cactus, as charming as an eel.
Posts: 8,196
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Bleh. The Spell check told me to seperate them...
Master Zen Online houses the PG13 version. Future editions may even push that up, we will haveto see.
I fully intend to describe the horrors of war should GoW ever be involved again, though.
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