Konrad's story Options

[Konji]

I thought I would give it you in bitesize pieces...as I find them easier to read.


-----------------------Konrad’s Story-----------------------
Konrad woke up, slowly opening one of his eyes. He covered his face with his hand, the light of the midday sun burning his eyes. He pushed his bed covers down, his shiny leather tunic visible now. He never really changes his clothes, but has them washed immediately. He got up, sighing and brushing his coal black hair from his eyes.

“Where is father?” Konrad called down as he descended the antique wooden stairs.

“He is already at his school opening, but I didn’t want to wake you,” his mother replied, frowning as she looked up from her lunch. Picking up a slice of bread Konrad broke free of the confinement of his house, blinking ferociously at the revealed light. He looked around, still amazed at the artistry of the buildings surrounding him. He spent many an hour gazing out of the small opening in his room, just marvelling at the wonders of the architects and builders.

He glanced at the position of the sun to confirm his thoughts. “It is late in the day…I must get there if I am to pass the trials,” Konrad mumbled to himself. He raced through the backstreets of the city, passing the many landmarks on the way, and eventually reached his father’s dream…The Blade School.

[Konji]

Another update for you....shock horror in this one!

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Konrad just stood there. He was in an apparent state of shock, his eyes blank and his sword hanging limply from his barely clutching hand. Lances started piercing through the stubborn oak doors and great cracks were rent through it. Finally the boy came back to life, running back down the hall, his head bent low. He burst out onto the training grounds, crying out.

“We’re being attacked! Man all walls! We’re being attacked!” Konrad shouted out across the whole area, his voice magnified by the acoustics and acting as a clarion call to all inside. The whole yard teemed with life as all ages unsheathed their swords and dashed up the perfectly carved stone steps to the heavily fortified walls.

Konrad followed his rival up the stairs. Luca bounded up 3 at a time, unaware to Konrad’s presence. Konrad took his place next to him, then stood to his full height and looked across the town. It seemed the whole crowd had been a band of fighters. The women were all screaming manically and waving clubs with various things sticking through them; nails, other sword, forks and shards of glass were all stuck in the various weapons. The children were all wielding short bows, and finding their range slowly.

Konrad ducked as an arrow flew quickly above his head, then scurried around for his shield. Failing to find his tower shield he picked up a nice looking round shield, the design in the middle a very intricate tableau. There was a Dunmer standing on a golden mask, with a volcano behind him. The centre was painted with reds golds and blues, but the outside of it was simple metal and wood.

Konrad found his place next to Luca again, and wished him luck. His rival, forgetting any hate, patted him on the shoulder and wished him at the very least an honourable death. Konrad nodded to him, and turned back to the tide. He wondered where the imperial guard were, then frowned as he saw the nearest guard tower with the guards in a heap at the front of it tied up and nearly naked. Then the assault came…

The children let out a pathetic volley of arrows, only one hitting a target somewhere down the line on a veteran warrior. He grunted, then twisted the arrow and pulled it out, throwing it behind him. The women then charged and tried to scale the walls, but failed against the slippery flatness of granite. The men carried small ladders and placed them up against the walls. They were just not tall enough, so the child warriors could not kick them down.

The barbarians scaled savagely, shouting up at the frightened children above them. To the right of Konrad there was an archery teacher. She loosed arrows at a remarkably fast rate, the ladder near them soon clear of soldiers and being left alone. For the moment the students were holding the men back, the weaponry excelling greatly over their meagre attempts at blades.

The men and women regrouped behind strategically placed barrels. Konrad had killed only one, Luca dispatching of three.

“It looks like the headmaster’s son has forgotten all his skills in a real battle, doesn’t it?” he jeered threateningly, cleaning his sword.

The attackers assaulted again. There was exactly the same thing happening, they weren’t learning. Konrad now had the annoying voice of Luca piping up more often, a chance to annoy ‘the headmaster’s son’ never been passed. Konrad thought about accidentally stabbing him in the heat of battle, but shook that thought off and tried something else a lot more ludicrous.

Under the cover of Reyla the archer’s shots he leapt down the ladder, landing among the warriors.
‘This will get my kill count up’ he thought jokingly, slicing at two women. They fell instantly, Konrad’s sword weaving through both their necks. Attacked from all sides Konrad ducked down, his shield raised above his head. He felt the rain of blow smack against the shield, the vibrations knocking him down even more. Trying to take advantage of his low position, Konrad span quickly. His sword took off the feet of the six attackers surrounding him. Smiling he raised up, and stepped on one of the fallen.

The attackers seemed to be finally retreating, broken by the loss of so many. Konrad ran for the ladder, crawling up it like a lizard. Regretting being shorter than the huge men he leapt for the wall, his fingers just curling around the top of it. He tried to lift himself up, but was incredibly weak from all the fighting.

“Luca! Help!” he cried out above him, the smug face of his rival leering down. Konrad lost grip with one of his hands and Luca finished the job off, stamping mercilessly on the other. Konrad fell to the ground with a sickening crack, one of his legs broken. Three barbarian women ran forwards and carried him away to the retreating men, one of them falling to Reyla’s bow.

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This post has been edited by Konradude: Jul 19 2005, 09:13 PM