Darker Stories of Eshil
Some small darker stories to slightly entertain myself, and give myself inspiration, for some of the more unfortunate things found in Eshil.
The Fate of Lord Mackerdell
Prompts: Portrait, Curse, Escape
"Leo, watch out!"
A young boy turned around, his hand still inching closer to the frame. His older sister hurried towards him and took Leo by the hand away from the painting.
"Haven't you heard the stories, you fool?"
"What stories?" Annoyed, he pulled his hand away from his sister's grip. "What could possibly be wrong with this portrait that there are stories about it?"
"That, you idiot, is the portrait of Lord Mackerdell," Melissa said with a stern voice. "He was one of the greatest lords in the region. Ruling the lands with an iron fist, he brought prosperity to its citizens. However, there are always people who don't agree with whoever is in charge, and even the invincible Lord Mackerdell was no exception to that rule. It is said that the canvas of this painting was cursed. The object or person drawn on the canvas would be trapped inside..."
Leo's eyes widened. "S~ so Lord M~ Mackerdell is.. trapped in there?"
"Indeed. And everyone who touched its frame or the painting will get sucked into the same trap with no escape..."
31. Drown
A young boy turned around, his hand still inching closer to the frame. His older sister hurried towards him and took Leo by the hand away from the painting.
"Haven't you heard the stories, you fool?"
"What stories?" Annoyed, he pulled his hand away from his sister's grip. "What could possibly be wrong with this portrait that there are stories about it?"
"That, you idiot, is the portrait of Lord Mackerdell," Melissa said with a stern voice. "He was one of the greatest lords in the region. Ruling the lands with an iron fist, he brought prosperity to its citizens. However, there are always people who don't agree with whoever is in charge, and even the invincible Lord Mackerdell was no exception to that rule. It is said that the canvas of this painting was cursed. The object or person drawn on the canvas would be trapped inside..."
Leo's eyes widened. "S~ so Lord M~ Mackerdell is.. trapped in there?"
"Indeed. And everyone who touched its frame or the painting will get sucked into the same trap with no escape..."
Edwige stormed into the library with a drawing of the plant in her hand.
"Hello, dear adventurer, please quiet down, you're disturbing the peace of the building." The clerk frowned upon the Halfling who's trying to catch her breath. "Eitherway, how can I help you?"
"Hi!" Edwige took a deep breath and composed herself. "I was wondering if you have one or more books about the native plants in the Mohari Desert. I'm specifically looking for a plant that looks like this." She showed the clerk her drawing.
He had a look at the piece of paper, mumbled something, and walked away. Edwige eagerly followed him into the section littered with Herbariums.
After a little search, the librarian pulled a tiny booklet from one of the shelves.
"Is this the plant you saw?" He showed her a page from the booklet. It was unmistakable, that was the plant.
"Yes, that's it!" Edwige couldn't contain her excitement. "Can I have a read, please?"
"Of course," and he handed her the booklet.
"Hello, dear adventurer, please quiet down, you're disturbing the peace of the building." The clerk frowned upon the Halfling who's trying to catch her breath. "Eitherway, how can I help you?"
"Hi!" Edwige took a deep breath and composed herself. "I was wondering if you have one or more books about the native plants in the Mohari Desert. I'm specifically looking for a plant that looks like this." She showed the clerk her drawing.
He had a look at the piece of paper, mumbled something, and walked away. Edwige eagerly followed him into the section littered with Herbariums.
After a little search, the librarian pulled a tiny booklet from one of the shelves.
"Is this the plant you saw?" He showed her a page from the booklet. It was unmistakable, that was the plant.
"Yes, that's it!" Edwige couldn't contain her excitement. "Can I have a read, please?"
"Of course," and he handed her the booklet.
Found in the Mohari Desert, this seemingly innocent plant is the cause of many deaths among wanderers and animals. If one ever comes across this cactus, make them heed this warning. Should one drink the liquids of the Vertius, death will follow them relentlessly with great amounts of agony. For once the liquid has touched the insides of the body, it will not travel to ones stomach. Instead, it will enter the lungs sticking itself to the entire surface area, essentially drowning its victim. There is no escape...
The Ruins of the Alehouse
Prompts: Vanish, Ruin, Haunt, Shadow, Whisper, Mist, Tear, Abandoned, Darkness
The walk through the swamp has taken an immense toll. At least four times, Edwige got stuck in the mud and had to pry her way out of the slack. Every step forward feels like a thousand on a normal road.
Finally, a dry patch of land! One deep breath and a short waddle later, Edwige seats herself on the lone log in the middle.
"There you go, La-de-Da-de," she puts her tartoise beside her. "Stay close, the log in small."
Within a few seconds, she dozes off into the land of dreams.
"Edwige."
"No, mum, let me sleep."
"Edwige."
"No.. let me."
"Edwige."
"I SAID NO!"
Bathing in sweat, the little halfling wakes up. Her heavy breathing produces clouds of condensed water. The whispers from her nightmare still haunt her. Amist it all, a tear rolls down her cheeks. What would her mother think of her, leaving her family behind like that and just vanishing into a life of adventures.
From the corner of her eye, she notices movement among the trees. An animal? No, too large a shadow, unless there are large predators here that she does not know yet. Her hand slowly glides towards her left pocket and wraps it firmly around the hilt of her dagger.
Edwige puts La-de-Da-de in her backpack. With her hand still clutching onto the dagger, she continues to navigate her way through the swamp. There is an abandoned ruin nearby that should provide some shelter for the night. All she has to do, is find the path...
A bank of mist rolls in, obscuring her vision even further.
Squash! I cannot see anything. Where's the road?
Frantically, Edwige tries to make her way through the fog in search of the pathway to the tavern. She must have walked in circles, as she passes the same log she sat on previously for the third time. Drained from energy, she seats herself on the log again while darkness engulves her surroundings.
Finally, a dry patch of land! One deep breath and a short waddle later, Edwige seats herself on the lone log in the middle.
"There you go, La-de-Da-de," she puts her tartoise beside her. "Stay close, the log in small."
Within a few seconds, she dozes off into the land of dreams.
"Edwige."
"No, mum, let me sleep."
"Edwige."
"No.. let me."
"Edwige."
"I SAID NO!"
Bathing in sweat, the little halfling wakes up. Her heavy breathing produces clouds of condensed water. The whispers from her nightmare still haunt her. Amist it all, a tear rolls down her cheeks. What would her mother think of her, leaving her family behind like that and just vanishing into a life of adventures.
From the corner of her eye, she notices movement among the trees. An animal? No, too large a shadow, unless there are large predators here that she does not know yet. Her hand slowly glides towards her left pocket and wraps it firmly around the hilt of her dagger.
Edwige puts La-de-Da-de in her backpack. With her hand still clutching onto the dagger, she continues to navigate her way through the swamp. There is an abandoned ruin nearby that should provide some shelter for the night. All she has to do, is find the path...
A bank of mist rolls in, obscuring her vision even further.
Squash! I cannot see anything. Where's the road?
Frantically, Edwige tries to make her way through the fog in search of the pathway to the tavern. She must have walked in circles, as she passes the same log she sat on previously for the third time. Drained from energy, she seats herself on the log again while darkness engulves her surroundings.
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