Jack T. Lamplighter

Hello Everyone, Lord Baldrith here with an Amazing song/rap by Apollox Evanheart. You can get into this one it’s really awesome! Apollox has done the whole thing, Production/creation! A Rap Toknight by Apollox Evanheart Music titled Promethazine by Bruce Wayne I’m the hottest thing Let me show ya Apollox Evanheart Representing…. Novia A Knight by day A King in the sheets Royalty by blood Raised by the streets By the God’s I’ve been blessed The best thing to hit Shroud Straight out of Wizards Rest A surprise for all That I’ve been gifted But you know how it goes No rest for the wicked You know how it is Ride in on my mount Back talk this Knight Pillage through your town Plunder what I need And get the hell out Throw me a parade You better bow down Hotness And you know this Just met these wench’s Collar full of lipstick Gave you a night of me Its was pleasant But I got to go before breakfast I’m a warrior I’m a soldier If you don’t represent Chaos Get the cold shoulder I rock a sword I use a shield Disrespect me Will often get you killed I think my time to shine Is now Try to dethrone me I laugh out loud You’re at a game of checkers I’m at a game of chess You’ve just been flattened Call you hard pressed Everything I do No regrets When I dominate No one forgets A dominating force Dominating pleasure Like a pirate Lookin’ for booty I’m getting my treasure The haters hate Said it couldn’t be done Who do you bow for now in Novian O no The end is near Better write history Make this very clear I don’t demand respect I push fear My time is up My path is clear I’m out of time Got to cause some pain Hope you don’t mind As I start my reign http://thecaverns.net/Podcasts/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/A-Rap-Toknight-3.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssThe post A Rap Toknight – Rapped – Produced by Apollox Evanheart appeared first on Echoes from the Caverns. View the full article

Hello everyone! Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar! We had a surprise guest this week while the podcast was going! We are happy to have guest: Cordelayne Sneak Peek: Brittany, Capital of Novia The Making of Skrekk – Part 3 The Making of Shores of Malice – Part 3 Sandillox Wrestling Federation EVL Saint Patrick’s Day Pre-Party Hangout of the Avatar ~ Release 27 Postmortem 52 Day Countdown to Spring 2016 Pledge Expirations Backer Shipping Addresses In-game Community Events Upcoming Events Recommended Projects to Back http://thecaverns.net/Podcasts/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Echoes03-11-16.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss The post Echoes From the Caverns 03-11-16 appeared first on Echoes from the Caverns. View the full article

Greetings Fellow Avatars! Here’s what we have for you in this week’s edition of Update of the Avatar: Sneak Peek: Brittany, Capital of Novia The Making of Skrekk – Part 3 The Making of Shores of Malice – Part 3 Sandillox Wrestling Federation EVL Saint Patrick’s Day Pre-Party 52 Day Countdown to Spring 2016 Pledge Expirations Backer Shipping Addresses In-game Community Events Upcoming Events Recommended Projects to Back Sneak Peek: Brittany, Capital of Novia [From a Dev+ Forum Post by Esteben “SorcerousSteve” Zaldivar] Hey guys, SorcerousSteve here to give you a teaser shot of the upcoming city of Brittany! Captured below is the South Port side Gate. A hub of commerce and trade, its streets are littered with cargo from afar, muddy sludge from the wagons covers the cobblestone, and the stench of fish penetrates the air. Not the classiest part of town but home to some quite rugged folks. From here we can catch a glimpse of Brittany Castle in the far left, home to Lady Arabella, wife of the King of New Britannia, Lord British! If you look to your right, you can also catch a glimpse of a lighthouse, that section is currently under construction and will lead to the North Port side Gate. To put things into perspective, in this frame is one of the five city gates that will feed into Brittany Central, 4 of which will come from surrounding neighborhoods/suburbs and 1 which will lead in from the Brittany Graveyard. Stay tuned for more progress on the City of Brittany! Esteben Zaldivar Level Designer The Making of Skrekk – Part 3 [From a Dev+ Forum Post by Richard Matey] It’s been some time but I feel confident with finishing Skrekk from a world building aspect. Scottie Jones was nice enough to help build up the kobold motif and making it feel like a very unique race / environment in the game. So here is a collection of screenshots from the main section of Skrekk. Expect to see even more locations and nooks to explore while playing the game. RrMatey Level Designer The Making of Shores of Malice – Part 3 [From a Dev+ Forum Post by Esteben “SorcerousSteve” Zaldivar] Hey folks SorcerousSteve once again to give you the latest on Malice! Malice Throne Room: Home to the Throne of Malice and the center of the Undead Army. The Halls of Malice are filled with chambers that served as a final resting place. Above is a huge furnace room that lies in the heart of Malice where bodies would have been incinerated. A laboratory where bodies would have been experimented on and prepared for their eternal rest. At the entrance of Malice you catch a glimpse of the teeming life located just above on the surface. A direct contrast to the dungeons of the City of the Dead. Just as a refresher for all you guys this is what the exterior map/entrance to Malice will look like: aka Shores of Malice. The Well of Sorrows, a pivotal moment awaits the Avatar here that may forever change his life. Esteben Zaldivar Level Designer Sandillox Wrestling Federation The Sandillox Entertainment Guild started the Sandillox Wrestling Federation, which they describe as a mix of PvP and Entertainment. They held their first wrestling event on February 27th (our apologies for not pre-announcing this cool event, but it somehow escaped our attention). They constructed an awesome wrestling ring at their beautiful Windy Fields Stadium, located in the metropolis of Rift’s End. Thanks to community member JoBeDream for capturing the event on video! Very entertaining! According to the Sandillox website, they plan to have quarterly SWF events. Interested in becoming a SWF competitive wrestler, hosting an SWF event, or becoming a member of the SWF Development Team? Checkout their website or send them an email at SandilloxEnt@gmail.com for more information. EVL Saint Patrick’s Day Pre-Party [From a Release 27 Events Forum post by Kendric Darrow] [EVL] would like to cordially invite you to a St. Patricks day Pre-party in the city of Owl’s Head. Dress in your greenest gear and join us for dancing and drink a plenty! We will have some green give-aways PLUS we have hidden a “Pot-o-Gold” in a secret location in Owls Head. We will give out clues to all in attendance and the lucky avatar that finds the Pot-o-Gold will get 100,000 gold! Lets celebrate in style! 52 Day Countdown to Spring 2016 Pledge Expirations! As we march toward the Final Wipe and Lot Selection milestone this summer, we are permanently expiring almost half pledges during the Spring 2016 Pledge Expiration Event, which will occur at 10:30 AM CST, May 2, 2016 (following the next wipe for Release 29). The remaining pledges, as well as new Player Owned Towns, will be expired during the Summer 2016 Expiration Event. Spring 2016 Pledge Expirations The following pledges will no longer be available for purchase or upgrade after May 2, 2016: Immortal Adventurer Virtual Collector Collector ** Navigator [originally expired August 31, 2015 for backers below Patron level] ** Developer [originally expired August 31, 2015 for backers below Patron level] Citizen Knight Lord Baron 1/2/3 [More Spring 2016 Expiration details…] Backer Shipping Addresses In preparation for shipping backers’ physical pledge rewards later this year, we have added Shipping Address fields to your Account Profile page. To enter your shipping address, log in to the SotA website, select “Account” in top right corner, then select “Edit Profile” located in top left corner, beneath your Avatar image: For country and regional tax assessment purposes, our tax accountants have requested that we start collecting a buyer’s physical/shipping address for all purchases, whether digital or physical. We’ve tried to streamline that process as much as possible, such that once you’ve entered a physical address we will pre-populate the address fields with your default address. In-game Community Events Our amazing community has another great lineup of in-game events planned for this weekend. Special thanks to community member SpookyJenny (aka Jenny Phoenixfyre in-game) for her help in compiling the schedule of player events from the Avatar’s Circle Community Events calendar and the Events of the Avatars community calendar: Recurring Events RPOTA Monthly $170 Writing Contest Here ye! Here ye! Biographers, Historians, Diplomats, Journalists, Story Writers, Quest Designers and Videographers! RPOTA is in dire need of your amazing talents! Role-Players of the Avatar is hosting a monthly contest to award those most famous with their quill or camera! (details) The Unreliable Travel Guide The Unreliable Travel Guide, created at the SotA Writing Round Table, is not an event, but a collection of hilarious short stories published by two drunken layabouts who have nothing better to do than try to derive a dishonest income from newly arrived avatars. (details) Avatars Radio (Daily Programming) Welcome New Britannians to Avatars Radio – Radio of the Avatars. Rocking your socks off from the town of Radio City with the Terrestrial and New Britannian bards together under one roof through the power of the Moon Towers. Check out their daily program of amazing DJs: http://avatarsradio.info/schedule.php NBNN Lunch with Laz & Jack (Weekdays, 12pm CST) Join NBNN every weekday for Lunch With Laz & Jack. They will be covering the daily goings on in SOTA. Calendar updates, Relevant issues happening in the days news. Come chat with us about upcoming events and general information. http://nbnn.info EVL R27 Hat Quest (Mondays, 7pm CST) Every Virtue is Lasting [EVL] would like to tip their hats to the developers for providing the community with a cool hat for the last seventeen releases, and have decided to carry on the tradition and run the R27 Hat Quest every Monday at 7pm NBT (CST). Everyone who successfully completes the Hat Quest by touring several of the new zones will receive a legendary bucket helm as a reward (Soltown Tavern, /zone Gnick Gnack; details) “The Tavern Respite” RP Event (Mondays, 8pm CST) The tavern door opens before you, and the scent of pipe and stew waft outwards with a wall of warmth from the hearth. Join in with the patrons of the Bear Tavern as they share tales of their adventures amid endless mugs of ale, legs of mutton, and merriment unbounded.The first Monday of each month, the event returns to Bear Tavern, where it all began. If no locations are scheduled, the event will take place at Fire Lotus Tavern, by default. (/zone Elgarion De’Khali; details)! Order of Vengeance Guild Meeting (Mondays, 9pm CST) Held at the Guild Hall in Vengeance Challenge Dungeon Run (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am & 7pm CST) This is a self-host event that meets at the Braemar Cemetery. Join whoever can make it for a dungeon run, adventure or something along those lines. Come prepared for combat. Learn how to set up your combat system if you need help. PaxLair Town Manager Hour (Tuesdays, 2:00pm CST) Join PaxLair’s Town Manager, Sean Silverfoot, to ask questions about PaxLair, being a Citizen, holding a lot and any other questions concerning PaxLair or any of it’s boroughs (Dragons Watch, Tenakill, Lockbrier, Island of Wonders, Knowhere, Sea Nymph Grotto & Serentiy Isle) EVL Dungeon Crawl (Tuesdays, 7pm CST) Every Virtue is Lasting will be holding a dungeon crawl every Tuesday to provide fun and experience for our members and guests. All are welcome! The meeting point is in Owls Head at the center of town near the trainer. Wednesday Knights (Wednesdays, 8pm CST) This will be mainly an impromptu event but on occasion I may plan on doing something ‘knightly’. All will be welcome. Some possibilities include RP, boss hunts, gathering materials & crafting, hat quests, hanging out or whatever people feel up for. (Caer Dracwych; /zone Bowen Bloodgood; details) EVL Virtue League PVP Tournament (Wednesdays, 7pm CST) Looking to break into the PVP scene but don’t want to be placed against established god-like players? We have you covered with two divisions, one for the newer, less experienced player, and one for the cream of the crop who have something to prove! (The Underworld at Aschfahl Festung; details) Stryker Sparhawk’s Happy Hour Wednesdays (Wednesdays, 8pm CST) Stryker will travel to one of the local Novia taverns for an hour to open a bar tab for drinks in hopes of sharing stories, news, critique of the arts, music, dancing, and otherwise unplanned mayhem. Zone /Stryker Sparhawk (details) Phoenix Republic PVE Nights (Thursdays & Fridays, 7pm CST) Join the Phoenix Republic as we send our weekly foray into the control points, dungeons and other of the most dangerous locales. Each week we will depart to a different PVE locale to help train our combatants. Contact Kazyn Phoenixfyre or Malakas for more info! Thursday Night Throwdown (TNT) a PVP Event (Thursdays, 10pm CST) PvP fight night – Come Watch or Participate. Team and individual fights. This is a no pressure event. This is for fun and for people to try their hand at PVP. The group matches allow newer players a chance get a taste of battle. Jam out as Apollox Evanheart plays the hardest music on Avatars Radio from ringside. (Obsidian Caverns; details) Novian Academy – Role Play Courses (Fridays, 4pm CST) Luka Melehan is hosting RP classes and practice sessions. (/zone Luka Melehan) Shardfall Madness (Fridays, 6pm CST) A PvP event. Contact Wind Silvermoon for details. Vengeance Madness (Fridays, 7pm CST) This is an Open PvP event where everyone fights it out in a royal rumble to see who the ultimate death dealer is! (City of Vengeance; /zone Bambino LudoVate) Astronomy Event (Fridays, 7:30pm CST) Interested in New Britannia Astronomy? Just enjoy gazing at the stars? Join us every week as we explore the night sky above New Britannia. (Player Town of Caer Dracwych, /zone Bowen Bloodgood; details) Saturday, March 12 6:00am CST Wake Up New, Britannia!!! With Woftam and Selene Woftam and Selene Noctua broadcast on AvatarsRadio from the Wake Up New Britannia Studio in Owlshead (right behind the crafting pavillion). Includes Interviews with the Community, Contests for in-game Gold, What’s new for the week in New Britannia, and your Best Bets for SotA weekend events! (details) 9:00am CST PaxLair Working Hours Come to PaxLair and see what’s happening! For two hours (more or less) we work together on projects, create ideas and have fun together. It’s sort of a weekly time to gather and do things together. Everyone in Novia is welcome! (PaxLair, /zone Winfield or Sean Silverfoot) 11:00am CST Church of the Dark Star – Saturday Service High Priestess of Chaos, Amber Raine, and the Dean of the Novian Academy, Kazyn Phoenixfyre, welcome you to the Church of the Dark Star. A shared project, built upon equality, where all are welcome. Services range from what is Chaos and Order to how they affect different aspects of our life. The path you choose is yours. (PaxLair) 2:00pm CST Beran League Construction – Harvest & Craft A weekly craft & harvest event for the purpose of supporting all towns, guilds and player run establishments within the Beran League! All harvested materials, crafted items and decorative items purchased will be collected and sorted in a specially designated warehouse. Town owners, guild leaders and proprietors of the Beran League (and those designated by them) will have access. (Meet at the Bear Tavern in High Rock or /zone Bowen Bloodgood; details) 6:00pm CST Port Phoenix: Social Nights Come out and join the republic in one of many potential events (chosen new each week). Each week we get together for everything from fishing, to music, to gustball to PVE duneoneering and adventuring. (Contact Kazyn Phoenixfyre for details) 8:00pm CST Serenite Auction Join us in Serenite, next to Vengeance east of Grunvald Shardfall and Desolis, for a monthly Auction for all the best wares. Minimums are allowed but all bets will start at minimums if they exist. (Auction Hall in Serenite, East of Grunvald) Sunday, March 13 5:30am CST Explore Novia! with royalsexy Starting at the entrance to Owl’s Head, come explore the wide world of Novia – for people on our side of the clock! 8:30am CST PaxLair Meeting Come see what PaxLair is up to in Novia and other town areas! Many people also attend from towns and guilds for a bit of a weekly wrap-up and what’s happening. Good discussions! (PaxLair, /zone Winfield; teamSpeak: 43.245.163.15:10099) 2:30pm CST Gustball Training Want to learn how to play Gustball? Need some tips on how to improve your deck or hone your skills on the field! Join Coach Sheamus McGuinness of EVLs for a 30 minute Gustball lesson and practice session just before the big game at 3pm (/zone Sheamus McGuinness) 3:00pm CST Gustball The game of Gustball is a great community event, not dissimilar from soccer or football, where Avatars of all levels & skill can compete in a fun, friendly game that uses the Gust skill (1st level Air Magic spell) to blow a Gustball into your opponents goal. (/whisper or /zone Sand, Sheamus McGuinness, or Bambino Ludovate, details) 5:00pm CST EVL Saint Patrick’s Day Pre-Party EVL would like to cordially invite you to a St. Patricks day Pre-party in the city of Owls Head. Dress in your greenest gear and join us for dancing and drink a plenty! We will have some green give-aways PLUS we have hidden a “Pot-o-Gold” in a secret location in Owls Head. We will give out clues to all in attendance and the lucky avatar that finds the Pot-o-Gold will get 100,000 gold! Lets celebrate in style! 5:00pm CST BMC Grid Iron Feast and Registration Register to compete in the BMC Gridiron and mingle with other participants and spectators before the big fight! (Blackrock Cove on Novia near Etceter Crag Mines, details) 5:30pm CST BMC Gladiator’s Grid-Iron The BMC is proud to present the nastiest, the foulest, the most feared arena in all of New Britannia! The Grid-Iron is equipped with a pit-style arena, locker rooms, a VIP round-table, betting & vendor booths, and all the blood-sport you can handle. (Blackrock Cove on Novia near Etceter Crag Mines, details) 7:00pm CST PaxLair Meeting Come see what PaxLair is up to in Novia and other town areas! Many people also attend from towns and guilds for a bit of a weekly wrap-up and what’s happening. Good discussions! (PaxLair, /zone Winfield) 8:00pm CST Fishing with Winfield Come sit with Winfield on a log or rock to hear some fish tales or tell your own. Chat about anything from the moons to the earth worms. Spend a relaxing day in nature near a stream or lake — bring insect repellent or a sword. (some fishing spot or pond, /zone Winfield; details) Be sure and check out the Release 27 Events thread in the SotA forums for additional events that may not be included here. Upcoming Events 2016.03.16 – GDC 2016 2016.03.17 – SXSW Gaming 2016.03.31 – Release 28 2016.04.15 – Final Lord of the Manor Britannia Manor Visit & Dinner 2016.04.22 – PAX East 2016.04.28 – Release 29 2016.05.13 – Final Duke Roundtable and Portalarium Office Tour 2016.05.26 – Release 30 2016.06.01 – The Hearth of Britannia: Legends of the Hearth III 2016.06.30 – Release 31 2016.07.28 – Release 32 Recommended Projects to Back Recap’s Second Album: “Pronoia” We’re back! It’s been over 2 years since our last album, “Neon Milk”, was successfully kickstarted, and we officially became “Recap”. In the time since, we’ve grown in countless ways both as artists and as people. We’re incredibly excited to have the opportunity to show you just how far we’ve come, and want to thank each and every one of you for your love and support as we went through all the growing pains of bringing this unique band to life. We’re Kickstarting our next rap-powered electric rock album, “Pronoia” – A puzzle box that pieces together the dual-nature of everyday life! They met their $5k funding goal in just 2 days and are now working on their stretch goals, including: $6k Epic custom album artwork created by Tortoise & Hare Creations’ Indi Martin, $7k Official “Pronoia” drink recipe & pint glasses from Relics by Rild for $25+ pledges, and more! Please check out their Kickstarter campaign and back them if you like what you hear! View the full article

Hello Everyone: Lord Baldrith here with another fine and emotional poem by Apollox Evanheart! I have been asked to create this piece with emotion and heartfelt apathy to an emotionally troubled and terrorized soldier in times of battle. A Change…From Knight to Day by Apollox Evanheart Music: “Prepare Your Swords” by Bojidar Marinov I feel like a monster While enemies fall victim to my sword I’ve protected my King and country But I don’t deserve any rewards I feel hopeless Those things will never seem to change Loyalty, Respect and Honor is my code But now that becomes something to blame I’ve slain many men Most having family and children I’m praised as a hero But suffer and feel more like a villain Who am I to judge? How do I decide who to save? I’ve lead my men to victory But I don’t deserve your praise These visual hallucinations Are eating me up inside The voices speak calmly to me Often leaving me to cry Another day I will suffer Another day I ask why Something has got to give or break I can’t take another sleepless night I want to stop the voices I want to contain this rage I’ve done this my whole life Now I grow old in age Is it too late to change my path? Can I even be redeemed? If Nataurz taught me anything It’s to always follow your dreams http://thecaverns.net/Podcasts/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/A-Change...From-Knight-to-Day_Written_by_Apollox_Evanheart_Narrated_by_Lord_Baldrith.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss The post A Change…From Knight to Day-Written by Apollox Evanheart-Narrated by Lord Baldrith appeared first on Echoes from the Caverns. View the full article

Hello everyone! Lord Baldrith here with a great and dark poem by Apollox Evanheart. Produced by Lord Baldrith. I Bid You…Goodnight by Apollox Evanheart Music: “Closed Area” by: Alexandr Zhelanov https://soundcloud.com/alexandr-zhelanov?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Sometimes I struggle Feeling as if I’m bypassed Looking forward to the future But haunted by my past. I try to reach the next chapter I try to turn the page A book with a happy beginning But its contents filled with rage Not a day goes by I don’t start to contemplate I try for a better life Only beginning to hesitate Held back by my fears Losing grip of my dreams If your heard the voices I have You’d also like to scream I don’t want to be a hero I don’t want to be your saint I give into the overwhelming pain I don’t show much for restraint I might seem to have wisdom I may seem I have a voice But if I was to try make a good decision I wouldn’t be able to make that choice I’ve dealt with it this long Ill deal with it some more Another chapter to be wrote Another voice to ignore I’m done for now with this battle I no longer want to fight I want to say to be continued As I bid you… goodnight http://thecaverns.net/Podcasts/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/I-Bid-You...Goodnight_Written_and_Narrated_by_Apollox_Evanheart.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssThe post I Bid You…Goodnight-Written and Narrated by Apollox Evanheart appeared first on Echoes from the Caverns. View the full article

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius, with a wonderful story from Dirk Hammerstrike, entitled The Ghost Horses of Crag Background music by Smartsound. The harsh winds carried the sound of frantic horses, and thundering hooves. Every soul in the camp instantly felt chilled to the bone, as if struck by magic. “Boy, get over here!” the man roared at his young apprentice. “I’ve sunk too much time into training you up, can’t afford to lose you now.” Old Cobb turned back to the roaring fire and pulled a well worn cloak tighter over his shoulders. Their guide and the hired men laughed at the boy, and all returned to staring into the fire, each largely left to their own thoughts as the night air grew heavier. All had some idea of what might lay beyond the dim light. Adale was a young lad nearing his 13th winter. He’d been in the house of Cobb the Wood craftsman since before he could remember. An orphan of the Satyr wars near 10 years past, Cobb had given Adale all he had in this life. Adale had begun to earn his keep before he could speak: moving smaller supplies to the work area, cleaning up the scraps, bringing meals, polishing the finished goods, and acting as a lookout for pickpockets and thieves on market day. Now he did much of the prep work, ran to the merchants to refill their ever diminishing supply of wax & creosote, and anything else Cobb needed a young back to handle. But with all his experience, Adale had never been further away from home than the Elysium fields, until now. This had so far not been the adventure Adale had imagined it would be. He’d fallen overboard on the trip from Port Phoenix to Etceter. The tale had earned Cobb a few drinks already, and much to Adale’s chagrin very little embelishment was required. But the boy knew his place in the world, and did not act beyond it. He just worried if Cobb had the same realization, and soon. They were supposed to have delivered goods and been on their way back already. Cobb overheard some men in the square speak of the quality of wood in the nearby foothills. It was amazingly beautiful stuff, a dense smooth wood with dark maroon tones. Given Etceter’s proximity to the woods, it’s price was seemingly outlandish. Cobb’s mind was made up. They would go fetch some themselves. Here they found themselves, in the foothills of Crag, with a handful of men, gathered with promise of coin on their safe return. Only the guide was a local. The swords had come on the same ship from Port Phoenix and were eager for work: felling trees, guarding against bandits and wild beast alike, whatever was required. Most of them were friendly enough but the guide seemed to have taken a dislike to Adale. “Boy, do ye not know what that sound is?” the guide asked Adale. Adale had not asked the man’s name nor was it given when Adale had told the man his own name. It left Adale in a bit of an awkward place. He did not wish to insult the man, but did not know what to call him. “No guidesman… though it sounded like horses to me” Adale replied. “It’s the ghost horses of Crag, have you not heard of them?” the guide questioned him again. The group leaned in toward the tale, some in fear, others with a small smirk, but all paying rapt attention. “In the days of yore they were slaughtered by the thousands. Errant men greedily searching for experience killing beasts would attack the great herds on the plains of Quel and drive them into the foothills. There the beasts were cornered and killed. Most of the time they weren’t even harvested for meat nor hide, just left to rot. The evil deeds of men permeated the blood soaked landscape. It is said to give the wood of these trees their luster” Here the guide paused, and stared Adale in the eyes. He continued “That is also why the wild beasts here are so hostile now. Killing intent soaked into the very earth, polluting streams, plants and animals alike. Could you not feel it from that black wolf earlier? It took all of us to bring it down.” The swords began to look nervously at the pile of fuel for the fire. Would it last the night? Would they? Adale felt fear claw deep into his heart. His hand went to the simple knife at his hip seeking comfort. “You would do well to mind your surroundings here Boy. And whatever other choices you make, be sure to find shelter before the last light fades.” With those words spoken, the guide rose up and walked off into the night. The others were too stunned to respond in time, and he disappeared before they reached the edge of the fire light in pursuit. Old Cobb laughed heartily as they returned to the fire, and suggested that the guide was simply off pissing in the bushes. The wind blew again, and the neigh and whinny of angry horses could be heard louder than before. As the wind died down the sound of hooves grew louder still, and Adale stood, gripping the knife before him like a talisman to ward off evil. Some of the men made prayers and promises to the Oracle, others cursed her name. The pounding of hooves was all around them now, like a wall of sound. The shadows beyond the light seemed to ebb and flow, and the ground began to shake. Something flew out of the darkness, knocking Adale over, and he knew no more. Adale woke with a terrible headache at mid-day, to the sound of birds chirping in the nearby trees. The fire was long smoldering, and the others were gone. Even Cobb. The area around the camp was heavily trampled, and there were signs that the men did not simply run off. Blood, torn cloth and blades littered the ground around him. He said a small prayer for the dead and hoped the Oracle would judge Cobb true if the time had come. He’d been a good man. Adale had some idea of which way they’d come from, and gathered what he could salvage. There was little else to do and so he set off. He did not have long, looking up at the sky. The guide’s last words echoed in his mind… “be sure to find shelter before the last light fades.” http://thecaverns.net/Podcasts/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/The_Ghost_Horses_of_Crag_by_Dirk_Hammerstrike_narrated_by_Asclepius.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss The post The Ghost Horses of Crag – by Dirk Hammerstrike – narrated by Asclepius appeared first on Echoes from the Caverns. View the full article