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Post by Eldon on Sept 19, 2009 18:51:48 GMT -5
Presented in the style of the old serial cliff hangers, this is the story of an alien sportsman and his quest for the ulitmate game.
Please read Kritak's companion book to this series, To Serve Man, available at Andromedazon.GAL
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Post by Eldon on Sept 19, 2009 18:58:10 GMT -5
Planet XY569023. Valley of the Prey
The planet's small mass and eccentric orbit created a fast rotational period. This resulted in 2 hour "days" in which an observer could actually watch the sun moving across the sky. That same observer could also see shadows lengthening quickly until they merged with the rapid sunset. Night fell on this tiny world without warning. No moon hung in the sky to help alleviate the utter blackness. By way of esthetic compensation, the dawns were explosions of light.
The beauty or ugliness of the scene was completely lost on the only sentient observer available. All he could see was a mass of grass-like plants immediately in front of his face as crawled with patient slowness. Their smell filled his nostrils with a stench that reminded him of the Snark pens on his homeworld. "How anything can smell this bad without a digestive tract is beyond me," thought the being from another world as he eased his modified form through the pseudo-grass another precious bit. A fresh wave of stench rolled up as more plants crushed under his weight and he worried that the increased scent might alert his prey.
The hunter had invested a great deal of time and effort to get to this point. Dropping out of orbit with minimal thrusters had been unpleasant enough, but having to hike the 10 kilometers to the Prey Site was an adventure in itself. "Between the violent weather produced on this spinning top," thought the being known to his people as "Krintak", "and the sun going on and off like a strobe, I'm lucky to have found the valley, much less the Prey." Still it had all been worth it. So far, the body modifications he had selected for this hunt were holding up. His altered scent matching the herbivore herd he shadowed, his skin changed to match the brownish-grey of the foul-smelling grass, and his eyes altered to switch between enhanced night vision and bright daylight had combined to put Krintak within striking distance of his prey. "Now, if I can just get into position in time," he thought fiercely, "we'll see if I can do this without screwing up." He grinned in savage humor. If he made a mistake, he was dead. No second chance, no victory song, no holo-film for the folks back home. Just another rotting corpse on an alien world.
After an appropriate wait, the Priest would declare him "Lost to the Prey" and add his name to the List scribed on the Temple. His trophies would remain in the Temple to inspire future hunters and the holos of his victories would be played by the People. For a time. His family would raise a toast in his memory, shake their heads in sadness, and then fight over his possessions. When a new Hunter rose to prominence, his name and legend would fade and mix with those who hunted before him. "Obscurity is a slow death," he thought, "I'm glad I won't be there to see it. And since I can't stand the thought of my brother-in-law Zilnar getting my best Vulpar spear, I better not get killed."
He eased forward another tiny increment and settled into place. Krintak had just a few moments before nightfall and hastily began his last minute preparations. Closing his eyes, he began the familiar mantra that would focus all his strength, skill, and experience into the single goal of bringing down the Prey. His mental world narrowed to a tiny point of concentration as the mental exercise triggered the hunting hormones of his species. His closed eyes noted that darkness was rapidly closing in as the sounds around him suddenly sharpened. Even his skin was now over sensitive and he could feel the slightest change of wind. Unfortunately, his sense of smell also went into overdrive and the stench from the grass became nauseating. Krintak ignored the distractions as he turned his increased senses in the direction of the Prey. Night slammed down and he opened his eyes slowly. The physical world was now a tunnel at the end of which waited the Prey. He felt his mind lock onto the beast and then the invisible pull as his awareness drew the target into a close, mental embrace. Its heat signature became visible to his enhanced vision; its smell suddenly overrode the stench of the grass as he filtered out everything else; and his ears caught the tiniest sound as the Prey shifted its weight in preparation for its run. "Not yet," he whispered in his mind, "Let it happen. You'll feel the Moment."
Time stretched like drop of warm blood dangling at the knife's tip. The Prey tensed and gathered itself. An endless tick of the chronometer longer and the universe held its breath. Predator and Prey arrived at the Moment.
Krintak launched himself to his feet and drew the arrow to his scaled cheek. In his thermal vision, the Prey was a blurred, white mountain of flesh charging directly toward him. Even with the loss of detail in thermal mode, he could still see the gaping jaws that swung open to engulf him. He spent an extra second he might not have steadying the shot then released with practiced smoothness. As the follow through completed, he saw his arrow disappear into the blur. Krintak leapt straight up with an explosion of every muscle in his body. He watched the charging beast pass under him and automatically blinked his eyes back to light-gathering mode. Casting his now useless bow aside he used the momentum to pivot 180 degrees with the grace of a Spring Festival Dancer. The beast ground his footprints into obscurity with its massive clawed toes. A below of pain split the night as the Prey roared its pain and defiance. The sheer volume almost stunned him into missing his landing area. But "almost" wasn't good enough. He landed on the furred neck.
"Now," thought Krintak, "Comes the fun part." The Prey screamed again and began trying to toss the annoying creature from its back. Since the Prey ran on two massive hind legs with a smaller set of "arms" in the front for balance and rending its own kills, this involved truly impressive leaps. "It's like a crazed bird hopping around with a broken wing," he thought. Then a vicious twist and a pair of quick jumps slammed his head into the massive neck and it was all he could do to remain conscious. Finally, the beast slowed its mad dance and began to reach back very deliberately for the hateful biped on its back.
"Now!" Kritak shouted in triumph as he drew the knife from a sheath at his back. The creature's clawed hand flailed for him and he quickly slashed the tendons of the forearm. The Prey howled in fresh pain as the limb disappeared. Krintak followed it by squirming higher on the neck. While the creature nursed its wound, he drove his knife between the base of the Prey's skull and the last vertebra. The giant body went rigid under him and then the Prey set off on a dead run for the distant trees. Krintak held on to his knife with both hands and a prayer to the Gods of the Hunt that the Prey would accept its defeat.
Abruptly it did.
One minute the Prey was rocketing across the dark grassland and the next it was plowing head first into the dirt. The sudden stop was more than even Krintak's enhanced physique could withstand, as inertia accomplished what the Prey could not. As he cartwheeled through the alien night, he had time to think, "Oh, sh…." Impact brought complete darkness.
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Who is "Krintak"? Did he survive? What prey will he hunt next? What wine goes with the Prey? And most of all what does any of this have to do with &*$% game?!
Answers to these questions and more in our next exciting episode of "Krintak the Hunter" or "To Serve Man"
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Post by Arachnid Man on Sept 19, 2009 19:12:20 GMT -5
hey. instead of making roles why don't you get a real one?
because the heroes just filled their last role
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Post by VooDoo on Sept 20, 2009 10:53:04 GMT -5
Pre game roles out of the blue are alot of fun to run on the forums. I say go for it, and enjoy. Even un official role playing in the game is a blast. Have fun....besides, who knows what roles are official, and which are not until game on?
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Post by The Corndog on Sept 20, 2009 19:59:47 GMT -5
It's ok Arachnid man...Eldon isn't to be worried about...we have something VERY special planned for him. Let him make up any role he wants to, cause it aint gonna help him none. OFU will not let him get away with anything.
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Post by Arachnid Man on Sept 20, 2009 20:02:43 GMT -5
I WANT MY NEMESIS TO HURRY UP AND HAVE THE ROLE FILLED GOSH DARN IT!!!
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Dale Arden
High Dollar Walk On
Love & Assured Destruction
Posts: 28
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Post by Dale Arden on Sept 20, 2009 20:35:52 GMT -5
I too would like to know my Nemesis. I promise only the sweetest revenge to Ming the spineless--- I mean merciless.... I look forward to meeting you my foe.
Love and Assured Destruction ~Dale~
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Post by Eldon on Sept 21, 2009 20:37:12 GMT -5
hey. instead of making roles why don't you get a real one? because the heroes just filled their last role Krintak says: I care not for your puny rivalries. The Way of the Moment demands Hunters seek greater and greater challenges until they find their final Prey. I have conquered all in this arm of the galaxy and still stand. You pathetic little mud ball only interests me because there may be one among you monkey-men worthy of a true Hunter. I seek the one called "Coyote". Tell where he lairs and I will reward you with riches beyond your limited imagination. When I wear his pelt, I will return to the stars and leave you to your own affairs. Beware: nothing can be allowed to stand between the Hunter and the Prey. Only the Moment matters.
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Post by Arachnid Man on Sept 21, 2009 20:46:56 GMT -5
i shall not reveal that secret you third person'd freak known as Kraptalk. you will have to go through me and my webs! come for me if you dare!
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Post by VooDoo on Sept 22, 2009 1:30:34 GMT -5
I, sir, will reveal his where-abouts. Look to where the candy cane forest meets the gumdrop mountains...there where is a place that the cool aid lake flows into pudding flats. 'Yote may be found at the third marshmellow on the left, close to the good ship "Lolipop" (upon Licorice Bay, of course).
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Post by Coyote on Sept 22, 2009 7:58:08 GMT -5
Ah Krintak, loyal servant to Allaris...
You better be on your game, and be a more worthy adversary than he is. (no planetary death rays, blowing up the planet while I'm on it is unsporting).
Come when you may, Coyote will be waiting.
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Post by The Corndog on Sept 22, 2009 11:45:25 GMT -5
Yote...it's good that you are coming back out bud...BTW...Trapper is on our side this go around but still don't play ANYWHERE near a road!!! I want you healthy for this game!
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Post by Eldon on Sept 22, 2009 21:04:01 GMT -5
Ah Krintak, loyal servant to Allaris... You better be on your game, and be a more worthy adversary than he is. (no planetary death rays, blowing up the planet while I'm on it is unsporting). Come when you may, Coyote will be waiting. Allaris was a leader a True Hunter could follow. I enjoyed serving in his army of conquest. Many trophies we took together until the monkey-men of Earth drove us off. That you speak of him makes you more worthy in my eyes. Our Moment will be the stuff of legends, my Prey. Who will hold the trophy at the end of our Hunt? Will you be my Final Prey. Let the Gods of the Hunt witness our struggle and all honor to winner! Krintak, former servant of the Great Allaris.
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Post by hudsonhawk on Sept 23, 2009 11:13:31 GMT -5
Krintak the Hunter; I wish to inform you that you must “take a ticket” to become a rival of the one who calls himself Coyote. This war between Heroes and Villains is decide the fate of all mankind and your petty squabble of trying to find a worthy adversary is of small significance on the grander scheme of things. As there is a particular order of severity in this battle, being the right hand “lacky” of someone whom he has already smite’d makes you somewhat of a LOW priority. Your feats of strength and honor are very respectable, I give you that , but I don’t see you having the cunning and agility to “mount” Coyote as you did your prior prey. If you wish to be escalated to a higher degree of priority, I suggest you make yourself a worthy adversary and bring him the heads of those you’ve slain on the battlefield in this war. Once you have acquired enough trophies, only then you could possibly be construed as worthy adversary as your predecessor. And only THEN can you be taken seriously.
Now, as we are all men of honor, I would like to offer you moment of spiritual enlightenment. As you so eloquently put it, your prey had finally succumbed to you and understood that you were the victor. I would like you to know that when that moment of clarity reaches you and you see, he who calls himself Coyote, is the victor. I will bestow on you the right of an honorable defeat and you are welcomed to bow in his presence and leave this world with honor. Please understand that if you do not choose this right I have bestowed upon you, you will be thrown aside like those of you before who thought they had what it takes.
~Hudson Hawk Disciple of Coyote
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Post by Coyote on Sept 23, 2009 12:49:32 GMT -5
I am not death, for death is still and quiet, the repose at battle's end, the long sleep. I am the unexpected force that separates muscle from bone, the sudden violent impact that turns limbs to lead. I am Coyote, the harbinger of Death; it listens for my song in the night and comes quickly, knowing it will find the broken and shattered begging the mercy of their release. Come then to my lair Krintak, come then to these lands where I have been worshipped by tribes since the mountains were young. Come then, like so many others... and I will sing over you as well.
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