The Darkwood Shadow, Volume 1, Issue 2

Once upon a time in the Dore sim, there was a sleepy little hamlet known as Darkwood, a peaceful town tucked into a wooded area and with a small population of folks dedicated to Darkwood’s anachronistic ways. When Second Life expanded, Darkwood did as well and spilled over into a new sim, its namesake.

Since the last issue of the Darkwood Shadow, much has changed in Darkwood. While Darkwood still remains a wooded, sleepy hamlet, many new residents have taken up the Dark mantle, and new structures have appeared in both the Dore and Darkwood sims.

But as the town grows and the good folk of Darkwood prosper, so too prospers the ancient evil that has always lain beneath the surface….


Kitra Kothari shivered. It had been a sun-drenched day in Darkwood, yet the spidery legs of a chill walked her spine from top to bottom and back again. She paused in her work for a moment, her hands half-covered in the yet warm, rich, black earth of her garden, and listened again for the scream she thought she’d heard. Of late, such feelings of chill were no stranger to Kitra. She’d felt, perhaps sensed, trouble in the air on more than one occasion in the brief time she’d been settled in Darkwood. Yet, none of these feelings had been punctuated as this one was with the vocalization that any chill yearns to articulate.

She remained motionless, straining to make out another such utterance over the susurrus of the evening insect choir. But, it did not come again. Unsettled, she rose from her work in the garden, paused only to brush the earth from her hands, and made her way to the Wild Boar Tavern. Inside, a small fire popped gregariously in the hearth, and several townsfolk were taking their evening meals of grilled trout, roasted potatoes, and warm wheat loaves.

The proprietor nodded to Kitra as she entered. Eve Cartier was a woman of few words but the most gracious hospitality Darkwood had to offer. She turned her head toward the ale cask behind her counter and raised an eyebrow?

“Not tonight, friend,” Kitra said. “Wine. Wine, please. Something mulled and soothing.”

Eve took a bottle of green glass from a shelf behind the counter, produced a silver goblet, and poured out a generous serving of a rich, burgundy wine which she set on the counter before Kitra, who took a deep draught and looked around the room.

Yuki Sunshine and Maxen Underthorn were engaged in what appeared to be a discussion of the recent disappearance of clothing maker, Taessa Weaver. Weaver had been a longtime resident of Darkwood and had disappeared suddenly without a word. One day she’d been open for business, selling all manner of fine clothing. The next, the door to her shop and residence was boarded shut, and the windows remained dark with the setting of the sun.

Kitra had thought little of Taessa’s leaving. She’d seen folk come and go before even though she, herself, was relatively new to Darkwood. So, she gave little mind to the talk this night until Yuki Sunshine uttered the one word Kitra had been loathe to hear, the one name that had haunted her from the time she’d first heard it though she could not quite say why.

“Bunnicula,” whispered Yuki, and the word dripped from her mouth slowly, reluctantly.

At this, Merriman Brightwillow, who’d been sitting at the end of the counter, turned to Yuki and glared at her, his dark eyes smoldering like nearly spent coals.

“Speak it not, m’lady! Speak it not lest ya feel the cold, dark pricking of steely whiskers at yer heel this night.”

Kitra shivered and pulled her cloak closer about her small frame. The chill spider traveled the road of her spine again and whispered to her of its long night’s journey, up and down, up and down.

(to be continued)

LMAO

That rules, Merriman.


Celery Stalks at Midnight.

That's a great tale!

Tale?

Who said anything about a tale?

WOOOOOTTTTTT LORE!!! WE FINALLY HAVE LORE!!!


"I FEEEEEELLLLL HAAAAPPPPPYYYYY!!!!!!"

I am considering a contest to continue this story. Please indicate here if you'd be interested in this.

--Merriman

I would participate, Merriman. (8

very interested i love writing

Great story so far Merriman

Meanwhile, several miles away near Taber Loch construction on the second castle of the two brothers has begun. This second structure dubbed castle in all rights yet more of a palace fortification. Standing on top of the newly finished tower the newly crowned Shadow Weaver broods over the night air. His land stretching before him but of course the black silhouette of his brother’s castle looms in the distance. From his tower Shadow can scan the horizon and make out most of his neighbors’ structures all beautiful builds and making the landscape look wondrous as well. Of to the left of the tower is Catherine Cotton’s Fairy Village an beautifully ornate place with teal tinges to its color. On a soft dusk night such as this one can see the Fairy’s scamper and play in the cool mist of the evening air. Across the Loch lies Sia Sunchasers cottage. Normally shrouded in soft rain and thunder storms that she has a conjurer brew for her that make her flowers grow to beautiful proportions. Shadows blood warms to the thought of Sia out there toiling away in her flowers. Jokingly one day she tempted Shadow to marry her. To her surprise he accepted and with that thought a brief smile slowly stretched across his lips. His vision turns to Welina Jades place a modest little place yet appealing to the eye to behold. All these places and all these things Shadow wonders how long will this castle stand. How long indeed?

Below through the echoes of the tower quiet is heard bearing more foreboding thoughts in Shadows mind. On most days as the construction on the castle starts to settle down and workers scamper to get their food and scurry off to bed. Whilst Lovers try to steal away to hidden places within the castle ramparts. Yet this eve a clouded veil of dread has fell over the mood of King. His brother’s light man signals from the high tower on his brother’s castle “all is well and good night my brother”. Snickering only momentarily at the pervasiveness of his brother Crimson…always tinkering with some new invention. Crimson given the name as a boy by their parents for always having the means of putting their mothers face to a rose red color with his antics. But that would be the last smile to erupt from Shadow’s face in a while to come.

In the distance he watches the moon rise. Normally this was done with his future bride snuggled up on his arm but this eve she is not here nor is she at her cottage. He knows she has gone on an errand so dubbed by her family but her absence has drawn a slight twinge in Shadows mind. The air in the castle smells of mortar, stone and of fresh construction. Building this castle is taking too long. The Ivy vines have already begun to overtake the completed structures from the out side. The terrain to treacherous to have some young boys go out and cut down gives the castle aged look even though it is new.

On some nights when looking alone from his tower Shadow sees Images like small eddies in the water pooling rings around where something had either jumped in the water or just submerged. This loch even though completely encased by land still has salt water. Sea life that is normally found in the deep oceans still dwells here. Dolphins and small Killer whales play in the dock while keeping the fish population regulated. Tales have been told of a great green female dragon that protects the loch from intruders but man has been intruding here for quite some time and no sign of a dragon nor it kind have been found. But still that image that the little tailor Tweeke Underhill showed Shadow of a large dragon covered in shiny green scales still lingers in his mind. Tweeke dismissed it as just a fairy tale or myth but Shadow could not dismiss those thoughts from his head. He realizes then that is the reason he comes to the tower ever evening. In search of this great protector the Great Green Dragon.

Finally Shadow settles down and listens to soft whistle song of the dolphins and whales off in the distance. Still brooding over the feeling that has come over him. Then the songs of the whales stop. The air grows still. Chills that run down his spine are from the chainmail shirt he has on. The lack of flow air-cools it to the touch of his skin. A Shadow fly’s past the moon darkening all the land momentarily from the moons bright glow. A high pitched scream not uncommon to a hawk or eagle pierces the night air. This brings Shadow to a ready posture and that’s when he realizes he has came to his tower unarmed. But what can harm a King on his highest tower he thinks. This time the shadow fly’s past again but this time Shadow makes out the silhouette. Two large wings with a long lithe body are soaring overhead.

Shadow Turns and franticly scans the sky but he cannot find where this beast is. He calls for his guards to get archers on the ramparts and in the towers. Meanwhile his squire of 7yrs still struggles to bring the king his sword. The steady clang of metal against stone is heard as the squire trips once again. Shadow bellows to his guard captain keep your eyes on the sky but do not I repeat do not shoot unless we are attacked. That’s when it happened a strong wind strong enough to knock down men engulfed the castle. Archers fumbled with their bows whilst falling to the ground. The Guard Captain rolled and tumbled on the ramparts as he made his way to his King.

Shadow being knocked down fought to regain his stance. When he turned there before him looming like a Giant was the head of the dragon. Large Red eyes staring at him. The stenches of sulfur emitting from its nostrils. Soft trails of smoke drifting upward in the night air. The Skin Green and in the luminance of the night looked a dark blue rose and fell with the breathing of the dragon. The squire had frozen at the top of the stairs with the king’s sword by his side. The creaking and rocking of timbers could be heard as the dragon shifted her weight and began to fold her enormous wings to her side.

Scurrying up the stair well the familiar sound of Sia’s footsteps could be heard. She did not stop, but ran past Shadow to the dragon and said “isn’t she beautiful.” “I found her on the way home” “She is wonderful please let her stay here she will be having babies soon and will need to have someone to protect her once she lays her eggs.” “She can talk too, just listen.” (To be continued)

I'll participate in the Chronicles...have to make sure Kitra's story is presented in all its truth
Looking forward to helping create DW Lore!

Kitra Kothari

As would I Merriman,i would love a chance to help continue the Lore of Darkwood....Incredible start btw.....=]