William Jones
Stories
10
Chapters
3,868
Words
2.6 M
Comments
0
Reading
8 d, 21 h
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Ozzy watched the trio of adventurers run out of the butcher shop and head for the tavern to get a clue about the entrance to the dungeon. They seemed nice - playing the game for the adventure of it all. The last few minutes bothered him though. "Rolly, tell me what the hell just happened?" Rolly was looking around his shop and poking into cupboards. From one of them he produced a bag of stale cookies, "Hmm, these aren't bad. But I think they might be dog biscuits. Do you have a dog, Ozzy?" Squirmie…-
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"What the hell?! When did I get a butcher shop?" Ozzy scratched his head and looked around the familiar/not-familiar building he was in. He retraced his steps mentally. He'd eaten breakfast, walked to work, and talked to Jenny. Things seemed pretty normal, except that he had never been in this butcher shop before. There were a lot of new buildings in town. Did the little builders add this one? The foreman had said he needed to use the old blue prints, which accounted for the differences in the town. But…
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687 •
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"So, what are you spending your points on?" Suzette was looking at options, but for once was holding off, and strangely hesitant to spend her points. More and more it was sinking in that this wasn't a game anymore, nor just a job she could drop and walk away from. She was 'Suzette, the Lonely Barmaid' - maybe for a long time. She was curious what Ozzy was going to do with his big chunk of points. All of the talk about strategies, coupled with a bottle wine, made the job of picking skills seem less…
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As the cock crowed over Sedgewick, an Imperial Courier delivered a message to the rooms occupied by Procurator Smythe, handing it to a bodyguard in crimson armor. The Procurator read the missive with his morning tea. Smythe refolded the piece of parchment, replaced it in the envelope, and handed it to a clerk to be placed in the Baron's records. One never knew what could be useful at a later date. Turning to his staff, he gave the days orders. "The game is afoot. Rather than delay more, the Baron wishes…
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Marcus had been in a dozen small fortresses in his career with the Emperor's Legion, but none quite so strange as this one. The most startling thing about it was that a week ago he had seen half of it in ruins, and the other half hadn't existed. Inquisitor Diego had briefed him on what had happened, but gods and angels were above his pay grade. He was more interested in how the original half of this stout little fortress had been built. Rolly had approached him and asked if he wanted a tour, which he had…
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"All right. I promise to wait and do my points after we talk. I've been trying really hard not to spend them, but you guys know once I look at a chart, I just toss the points in and have fun." Suzette was slowly working her way through a bottle of wine, while sitting on the floor and leaning back against Ozzy. Ozzy found that wine didn't have much kick anymore and was slowly sipping something Makken called 'Baby Dragon's Breath.' He claimed they fed it to youngsters of their clan who hadn't yet grown a…
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Getting Jenny’s rabbit legs and pork chops had been relaxing. Ozzy was happy to get back to a simpler routine of butchering and bar-b-que. Joe was waiting for him at the pit, slowly stirring the coals in the center with a smoky shovel. The smoke golem looked up as he approached and smiled. "Well, look who's back from hobnobbing with gods and angels. I was worried I was going to have to drag you back here and chain you down to get any work out of you." "Yeah, sorry about that, Joe. Too much has been…
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As Billy and Layla started down the stairs to the first floor, they heard the murmur of voices and plates. What they expect to see was a tavern full of lazy contract workers sitting around eating groat muffins or slowly drinking a beer. What greeted them instead was a tavern full of people that they hadn't seen before, Suzette busily pouring beer and serving plates loaded with eggs, ham, and toast, and Ozzy sitting at the door with his 'bouncer' look on his face. The noise picked up as the new Baron and…
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As the courier had promised, it hadn't taken the overloaded wagon very long to reach Sedgewick. The horse pulled it over the old stonework bridge, spanning the large brook which cut across the front of the town, not pausing, or slowing even as it hit the small incline up to the town. As the road began to bend to the left, Johannes looked at the stonework buildings with tall, pointed roofs and smiled. Good to see some things never changed. Too many villages updated things, especially after fires or orc…
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Layla and Ben were deep in conversation as they came walking into town. Technically Layla, Ben, and Billy. But the latter was sound asleep and snoring loudly. They continued into town, Layla looking continuously surprises as she saw all of the new-but-old construction. At Ben's urging they went to the tavern. Suzette was polishing glassware. Rolly was scooping peanuts out of a large barrel and placing large dishes of the salted nuts on the tables. There were a few people sitting around, notably Aliester…
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