Hesketh Tolson posts
Posts: 110
Files: 17
RS ?? - The Immortal Raging Dragon Conquers the Heavens!
AUTHOR NOTE: Things have been a little crazy here in South Africa the last week or so. I am safe, but I didn't manage to write a Fred chapter due to the situation, so instead here is a guest short from my dear friend Mecanimus, author of Journey of Black and Red and The Calamitous Bob, posted wi...
Dawn Watch 18 - Dragon Breath or Drowning
18(Ansel)Dragon Breath or DrowningThey stepped back into the clearing, taking care not to be seen. The sun was sinking to the west, and the sounds from the strange native city had softened, reaching their ears as if through a heavy blanket. The wind must have changed. Ansel cast one longing glance a...
RS 42: The Meaning of Life
Chapter 42The Meaning of LifeThe Heart of the Ocean dropped anchor off the coast of a small and rather perfect tropical island. Seagulls wheeled in the fresh breeze as sailors scurried around the ship, salvaging ropes and sails. Bits of wood lay scattered across the deck, and a large part of the rai...
Dawn Watch 17 - The Stillness Between Two Waves
17(Ezra)The Stillness Between Two WavesAnsel scrambled up, tripping over the length of his arquebus.“Leave it!”Ezra pulled him and they ran, discarded weapons tumbling by their sides as they hastened up the slope. The savage woman broke into a sprint and the men left behind on the hill scattered...
RS 41: The Wet and the Furious
Chapter 41The Wet and the FuriousTwo goblins sat in a booth, waiting. Where the booth was actually located…was unclear, but it had a good view of a sparkling ocean, and down below, of the vast flotilla of assorted vessels that floated on it.Geryon shifted in his chair with a small cough. He didn...
Dawn Watch 16 - An Unexpected Party
16(Ezra)An Unexpected Party“Perhaps this place is cursed,” said Lothor, staring around at the mountains and the sea. In the distance a giant squid surged out of the water, chasing some unlucky prey. It landed with a mammoth crash, the spray flying high. The assembled men resolutely turned their ...
RS 40: A Study In Sapphire (Part II)
Chapter 40A Study in Sapphire III settle on the sand, and my companions gather round me, their faces expectant. I feel hope then, but my innards push up against my ribs, and my brain swells in my skull. I lift up a hand to my ears, but they are not bleeding, not right now, it is a memory only. We ar...
RS 39: A Study In Sapphire Part I
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote A Study in Scarlet, Neil Gaiman A Study in Emerald and now I, the Midnight Hagette that rhymes with baguette present to you:A Study in Sapphire: A homage to Arthur Conan Doyle and Lovecraft(minus the casual racism).Chapter 39A Study in SapphireOur family has always flirt...
Dawn Watch 15 - An Unexpected Visitor
15An Unexpected VisitorAfter the success of the Sky Lion’s venture, more ships started going out. Hunting, gathering resources, mapping and mining for ore consumed the fleet, and filled the men with purpose. There was no retribution for the savage massacre at the town under the mountain, and only ...
Dawn Watch 14 - Exploration
14ExplorationThe fires roared in Ansel’s brain. He lay in the suffocating dark, twitching, feeling the vestiges of the power that had consumed him. The veins in his arm pulsed. The same arm that had cleaved Marlow in two. It felt normal now, but he couldn’t forget the feeling. He played the mome...
RS 38: Kiss the Girl
Chapter 38Kiss the GirlEventually Jasconius slowed down and the island came to a bobbing halt. Everyone stood up, cautious, but the enormous, magical turtle bobbed in the surf, presumably content to nap on the wavetops. The sky was blue and dotted with happy little summer clouds. The breeze was warm...
RS 37: The Seaweed is Always Greener
Chapter 37The Seaweed is Always GreenerFred, Joan, Hugo, Alice and Epic walked through the gate into a blaze of intense white light. A voice boomed: “WELCOME TO LEVEL 2!” There was the sound of rather tinny applause as if played through a distant loudspeaker.They blinked in the light, trying to ...
Dawn Watch - Chapter 13
[Trigger warning for this one (violence)]13Sunlight on a Broken ColumnAnsel slid onto a bench and nodded at Jethro. The red-faced cook beamed at him, his expression transforming from dour to cheerful in an instant. He set down a bowl of gruel in front of Ansel. The cheerful demeanour vanished as qui...
RS 36: Counting Crows
Chapter 36Counting Crows“How long will it take us to get to the gate?” asked Epic. The substantially larger sabre-toothed tiger wound its way between her legs, nearly tripping her up in its attempts to console her. Epic stroked Stinkums’ head, smiling at the answering purr.“How long will it ...
Dawn Watch - Chapter 12
12A DreamThe scouting party trudged through the twilight. The sun had long since sunk into the sea, leaving behind a molten trail of pink and gold wave caps.“Should be easier going downhill,” commented Louis. And it was. They made good time, journeying most of the way back to the airships before...
Dawn Watch - Chapter 11
11(Ezra)Hollow MenEzra stood on the deck of the Sky Lion, the breeze snatching at his robe. He watched as Ansel and the rest of the scouting part wended their way across the beach and up into the foothills in the direction of the great mountain. He scowled at it. The horrible thing dominated the lan...
RS 35: Level 10
[Ding! The Fredinator LEVEL UP!][Ding! Joan of Snark LEVEL UP!][Ding! Alice69 LEVEL UP!][Ding! Hugo Balls LEVEL UP!][Ding! Epic Failure LEVEL UP!]“Nice,” said Joan, with great satisfaction. “That’s everyone at level 10 or higher. Great job! Thank you Knights of Cake.” She kicked a shiny br...
RS 34: The Knights of Cake Part II
Chapter 34The Knights of Cake Part IIThe Knights of Cake rode across the turf churning sod, leaves and peasants underfoot. Plumes waving in the breeze, their armour sparkled, glittering as they caught the morning light. At least five of the six armoured figures sparkled. The shortest one at the back...
Dawn Watch - Chapter 10
10Scouting PartyAnsel hurried to the party, eager to be off the ship and away from Mammon’s attentions. Louis joined him with a grin, and Ansel recognised one or two of the men from other ships, from their brief foray in the desert.“Always the same volunteers, ey,” said a burly blue-eyed man, ...
Dawn Watch - Chapter 9
9The Bay of GiantsBoaz refused to send a message to Marlow. The crew muttered and whispered amongst themselves - that their captain was in thrall to the witch was now obvious. There was talk of mutiny. Three deckhands rushed Mammon accomplishing nothing but their own deaths. Boaz would not be reason...
Dawn Watch - Chapter 8
8FiveAfter crossing the fortifications by the river, steep mountains reared up to block their path. While not green and temperate like the rolling hills of Lochlanach, the peaks were a balm to their eyes after the bitter monotony of the desert. Here, at least, was life. Trees and bushes clustered in...
RS 33: Recipes for Revenge Part II
Chapter 33Recipes for Revenge Part IIJoan made her way out of the fairy city, moving as quickly as possible. Not only was she getting hungry but she was anxious to get her hands on those recipes and start cooking up some revenge. But access to a fully stocked alchemy shop and crafting bench would be...
RS 32: Recipes for Revenge
Chapter 32Recipes for RevengeJoan set off immediately for Mistletoe Lane. A happy, wooden sign hung from the wall, announcing her arrival. It depicted a lyre threaded through with holly, ivy and oak leaves, all signs that this was an alchemist shop run by a druid, or at least one with druidic knowle...
RS 31: Farmether's Fish, General Goods and World-Building Services. No Cakes.
Chapter 31Farmether's Fish, General Goods and World-Building Services. No Cakes.“Hang on,” said Cob, “this is all well and good but what happens when the new queen respawns?”“She respawns?” asked Hugo, his eyes wide. He was polishing the Trombone of Orpheus with the edge of the table...
Dawn Watch - Chapter 7
7Seven“Frost! Was there truly cavorite on that thing?” Otto ran over, his eyes wild. “Why did you set it on fire?” His eyes darted to Ezra, and he started, as if noticing him for the first time. Ezra’s lip twisted up on one side. The rune master recovered himself, gave Ezra a little nod, b...
Dawn Watch - Chapter 6
6EightThe remaining ships of the fleet circled the scene of devastation. No one wanted to land on the shifting sands but at last Marlow gave the word. Kurtz had gone down with his ship, so once more the chain of command passed to the captain of the Bright Terror.A rescue party was called upon to com...
RS 30: Supreme Executive Power
Chapter 30Supreme Executive PowerThe fairy castle was a mess of broken glass, ruined food, and shuffling dead bodies. The remaining elves were all seated on what was left of the furniture, or had gone to bed, happy in the knowledge that Lugh would take care of things. The dwarves had thanked Alice f...
RS 29: Glorious Drunken Revolution
Chapter 29Glorious Drunken RevolutionFred and Joan set the cart with the purchased weapons down at the entrance and walked into the tavern. He looked around for Alice, Hugo and Epic and spotted them immediately.“I see our friends have been busy,” shouted Joan, her eyes on the scene before them....
Dawn Watch: Chapter 5
5TenUnder Mammon’s lackadaisical eye, crates and barrels of food were loaded onto the ships. The pale woman stood at the prow of the Sky Lion like a figurehead carved from marble, moving only once: to demand someone hold shade cloth over her. Boaz quickly assigned two deckhands to attend her. The ...
RS 28: Jam and Dwarves
Chapter 28Jam and DwarvesHugo held the pot of jam up, obediently. The giant Spider Mother [Level 30, Very Dangerous] took it gently in one of her pincers.“Thank you, my dear,” came the deathly whisper. The dust swirled in eddies at her feet.[ding! Quest completed! Jam delivered to Aunt Mavis!All...
