Post by Krisley on Oct 11, 2006 16:19:55 GMT -5
ooc// This isn't an interactive part, just one to introduce the new threat, and weird disappearances.
“What’s that?” Said a trader, looking up into the brilliant glare of the sun, hand raised to ward of its rays. There, streaking across the sky was fire. Fire fell from time to time, leaving nothing but blackened stones where it landed. The ancients knew what they were, but the present time Pern going peoples did not, having lost the knowledge once again. The traders were lumbering along the old trails, their wagons stocked with fish, wood, and other merchandize from the holds and halls.
Suddenly, the falling fire swerved, cutting a new flaming trail through the sky. The herdbeasts and sturdy runners that pulled the wagons reared, halting the caravan. The traders rushed to secure their beasts and cargo, while the fire grew closer.
“Run them off the trail! The fire is heading right for us!” The caravan leader called, slapping the rumps of the lead herbeasts hard, reining in his runner as it started to whinny in fright. He forced them both off into the brambles, the herdbeasts plowing through them like nothing, their low calls fearful. He tied them firmly to a thicket of trees, looking back to see everyone else helping to bring the caravan out of harms way. The last wagon was almost off the trail when the fire hit with a resounding thud that scared the animals into hysterics, a few of them breaking their tethers and running off.
The last wagon was blasted off the trail, alight with flames. The leader rushed over, ignoring the flames scorching his arms, and pushing his way past the dead beasts tethered to it. He gazed inside, recoiling as he saw the burned corpses of his relatives. His fellow traders pulled him out, sputtering and crying. It was some time before any of them could look at the sky-fire, and what they saw was not pleasant in the least.
A smoldering hunk of rock, riddled with holes and glowing bright red sat on the trail, a large patch of blackened and shifting earth surrounded it. It was at least the size of a gold queen, and just as intimidating. Wary of it, the traders moved as far as possible away, making repairs to canopies that had caught fire, and the people and animals that had gotten injured in the blast. The leader was among them. The runners and herbeasts had called down somewhat, but remained at the end of their tethers, as far away from the fire as the ropes and wher hide would permit.
That night, as the weary and stricken caravan slept with only a few sentries, something emerged from the fire. It floated silently over the ground, aligting gently on the first injured person it came across. The leader of the caravan yelped with pain as it touched him, but more landed on him, and the next thing he saw was blinding light....
In a few minutes time, no trace of the traders was left, but for their tools, their wagons, and their beasts. The traders had vanished. As it all happened, the Red Star pulsed overheard.
“What’s that?” Said a trader, looking up into the brilliant glare of the sun, hand raised to ward of its rays. There, streaking across the sky was fire. Fire fell from time to time, leaving nothing but blackened stones where it landed. The ancients knew what they were, but the present time Pern going peoples did not, having lost the knowledge once again. The traders were lumbering along the old trails, their wagons stocked with fish, wood, and other merchandize from the holds and halls.
Suddenly, the falling fire swerved, cutting a new flaming trail through the sky. The herdbeasts and sturdy runners that pulled the wagons reared, halting the caravan. The traders rushed to secure their beasts and cargo, while the fire grew closer.
“Run them off the trail! The fire is heading right for us!” The caravan leader called, slapping the rumps of the lead herbeasts hard, reining in his runner as it started to whinny in fright. He forced them both off into the brambles, the herdbeasts plowing through them like nothing, their low calls fearful. He tied them firmly to a thicket of trees, looking back to see everyone else helping to bring the caravan out of harms way. The last wagon was almost off the trail when the fire hit with a resounding thud that scared the animals into hysterics, a few of them breaking their tethers and running off.
The last wagon was blasted off the trail, alight with flames. The leader rushed over, ignoring the flames scorching his arms, and pushing his way past the dead beasts tethered to it. He gazed inside, recoiling as he saw the burned corpses of his relatives. His fellow traders pulled him out, sputtering and crying. It was some time before any of them could look at the sky-fire, and what they saw was not pleasant in the least.
A smoldering hunk of rock, riddled with holes and glowing bright red sat on the trail, a large patch of blackened and shifting earth surrounded it. It was at least the size of a gold queen, and just as intimidating. Wary of it, the traders moved as far as possible away, making repairs to canopies that had caught fire, and the people and animals that had gotten injured in the blast. The leader was among them. The runners and herbeasts had called down somewhat, but remained at the end of their tethers, as far away from the fire as the ropes and wher hide would permit.
That night, as the weary and stricken caravan slept with only a few sentries, something emerged from the fire. It floated silently over the ground, aligting gently on the first injured person it came across. The leader of the caravan yelped with pain as it touched him, but more landed on him, and the next thing he saw was blinding light....
In a few minutes time, no trace of the traders was left, but for their tools, their wagons, and their beasts. The traders had vanished. As it all happened, the Red Star pulsed overheard.