Basketball season is over. We lost in Regionals in a cold, dark gym near Orlando. I am sad to see our Seniors go as they are great leaders and great players but I am also excited about next year as we return three of our starters (two freshman and a sophomore)and a solid core of reserves.
It's nice to have more time in the day but from what everyone tells me once the baby comes (6 days til the due date) that goes out the window as well. Sometimes I think people are trying to give me the old "you just don't understand what you're in for" speech. I say, Bring It On! As Bonecrusher once said, "I ain't never scared."
My wife is nesting with the might of a thousand chickens and we are cleaning the house all weekend and making sure the nursery is in order.
Rick, I am sorry to hear about Moose, I hope he gets better soon.
Dave, blog something.
Mike, what about the Cosby Show?
Phil, nice trailer, thanks for posting it.
Jay, great pics. Sometimes I miss snow...sometimes.
Toby, RPG's are the best, sorry about your archer. Blame the healer imo.
Joe, I'm not sure if you read this, but I'm glad your trip went well.
Chuck, (see Dave)
Angie, Glad to see everything is going well.
peace and chicken grease
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
The Fall of Clan Kingshammer
Collin awoke to the barking of dogs. The interior of the longhouse was illuminated by the embers of a dying fire and shadows danced on the hide walls and swarmed over the sleeping forms of his family. Collin sat up pushing the bear skin from him and rubbed his eyes sleepily. After a moment the dogs stopped and Collin flopped back down on the hide covered pine boughs that made his bed. His eyes flickered once and closed. A scream sounded loud from close by and then the shouting of men and the war bells.
Collin was on his feet in an instant and he was not alone. His uncle Angrew was shouting as a score of his cousins pulled mail shirts over leather jerkins and grabbed weapons from the racks on the longhouse walls. “Step to lads,” Angrew cried hefting his war axe in his massive hands, “the bells call us to glory. Collin, see to your mothers and sisters, let no one past the door.” Angrew clapped Collin heavily on the back. A feral smile split his bearded face as he rushed out the door. Collin could hear him shouting, “Show no mercy lads, split them, gut them…” The rest was lost to the sounds of battle.
Collin took his place in the doorway hefted his broadsword and swung his shield into position. Glancing behind him he saw his first mother, Ursula and second mother, Agris handing weapons and shields to his sisters and cousins maneuvering them toward the back of the longhouse in a tight wedge with Ursula at the point. Collin smiled in spite of himself. He did not envy any attacker who managed to fight their way past him. Ebresh women were a match for any man in armed combat.
A giant warrior hurtled through the longhouse door barreling into Collin and sending him crashing into the empty weapon racks on the far wall. Ursula screamed, “Death to the Shogar,” and her war cry was echoed by a score of piercing calls as the women charged the hulking Shogar warrior. Collin’s head swam as he stood shaking to his feet. The Shogar’s head brushed the ceiling beams as he turned toward the women. The brute raised his obsidian studded cudgel as a spear struck him in the thigh and another took him in the shoulder. The Shogar merely grunted at blows that would have skewered a boar and swung his cudgel with all of his immense strength. Ursula raised her shield just as Collin crashed into the Shogar pushing him off balance and causing his attack to go wide. The Shogar fell to his knees and raised his weapon for another strike. The women crouched behind their shields bracing for an attack that never came as the point of Collin’s broadsword blossomed from the warrior’s neck in a crimson spray. The Shogar gurgled his final breath and fell forward onto the fire pit shrouding them in cold darkness. Collin’s victory shout was cut short as smoke filled the longhouse and flames leapt from the burning walls.
“They’ve set us ablaze,” Agris cried.
“Run children, run!” Ursula shouted.
Collin leapt out the door, sword leading. Fire, the entire village was aflame. Smoke mixed with the frigid night air seared his lungs as he searched for Angrew in the chaos of battle. Knots of Ebresh warriors stood locked in combat with the Shogar raiding party. The snow was stained red and littered with the bodies of dead Ebresh and dying Shogar. Flames from burning longhouses reached toward the stars and some of the nearby trees were wreathed in flame.
“Collin,” Angrew shouted from where he stood striking down a wounded Shogar. His axe caught in the giant warrior’s neck and he ripped the brute screaming to the ground dispatching him with a two-handed blow. “Collin, get out. Take them to Nevermoon. There’s nothing to be done here. Protect the clan. Go!” Angrew shouted as Collin hesitated taking a step toward his uncle. “Go now, before it is too late.”
Collin led the remnant of Clan Kingshammer into the freezing darkness, into the vast expanse of the Frostpine Forest, hoping beyond hope to reach the ancient fortress of Nevermoon before they were found.
Collin was on his feet in an instant and he was not alone. His uncle Angrew was shouting as a score of his cousins pulled mail shirts over leather jerkins and grabbed weapons from the racks on the longhouse walls. “Step to lads,” Angrew cried hefting his war axe in his massive hands, “the bells call us to glory. Collin, see to your mothers and sisters, let no one past the door.” Angrew clapped Collin heavily on the back. A feral smile split his bearded face as he rushed out the door. Collin could hear him shouting, “Show no mercy lads, split them, gut them…” The rest was lost to the sounds of battle.
Collin took his place in the doorway hefted his broadsword and swung his shield into position. Glancing behind him he saw his first mother, Ursula and second mother, Agris handing weapons and shields to his sisters and cousins maneuvering them toward the back of the longhouse in a tight wedge with Ursula at the point. Collin smiled in spite of himself. He did not envy any attacker who managed to fight their way past him. Ebresh women were a match for any man in armed combat.
A giant warrior hurtled through the longhouse door barreling into Collin and sending him crashing into the empty weapon racks on the far wall. Ursula screamed, “Death to the Shogar,” and her war cry was echoed by a score of piercing calls as the women charged the hulking Shogar warrior. Collin’s head swam as he stood shaking to his feet. The Shogar’s head brushed the ceiling beams as he turned toward the women. The brute raised his obsidian studded cudgel as a spear struck him in the thigh and another took him in the shoulder. The Shogar merely grunted at blows that would have skewered a boar and swung his cudgel with all of his immense strength. Ursula raised her shield just as Collin crashed into the Shogar pushing him off balance and causing his attack to go wide. The Shogar fell to his knees and raised his weapon for another strike. The women crouched behind their shields bracing for an attack that never came as the point of Collin’s broadsword blossomed from the warrior’s neck in a crimson spray. The Shogar gurgled his final breath and fell forward onto the fire pit shrouding them in cold darkness. Collin’s victory shout was cut short as smoke filled the longhouse and flames leapt from the burning walls.
“They’ve set us ablaze,” Agris cried.
“Run children, run!” Ursula shouted.
Collin leapt out the door, sword leading. Fire, the entire village was aflame. Smoke mixed with the frigid night air seared his lungs as he searched for Angrew in the chaos of battle. Knots of Ebresh warriors stood locked in combat with the Shogar raiding party. The snow was stained red and littered with the bodies of dead Ebresh and dying Shogar. Flames from burning longhouses reached toward the stars and some of the nearby trees were wreathed in flame.
“Collin,” Angrew shouted from where he stood striking down a wounded Shogar. His axe caught in the giant warrior’s neck and he ripped the brute screaming to the ground dispatching him with a two-handed blow. “Collin, get out. Take them to Nevermoon. There’s nothing to be done here. Protect the clan. Go!” Angrew shouted as Collin hesitated taking a step toward his uncle. “Go now, before it is too late.”
Collin led the remnant of Clan Kingshammer into the freezing darkness, into the vast expanse of the Frostpine Forest, hoping beyond hope to reach the ancient fortress of Nevermoon before they were found.
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