《52 stories》Week 25: The lighthouse
Advertisement
(Small info here, this is going to be a story about a DnD game. So everything that is in italic are what the players are saying or doing. And everything in normal font are the characters doing.)
The tavern is almost empty, but it's understandable since it's still really early in the afternoon. But there is a bunch a miss matched adventurers in front of one of the regulars. The old sailor man rubs his hands and says in is raspy voice ''I know this sounds crazy and I know no one will believe me. That lighthouse is abandonned, I'm aware. But the beam from it shines every night on the rocks at the bay. Same spot. And everytime we've gone to investigate. Nothing. No one. I need your help. People are scared.''
Faecerys stand tall and proud and says in her most reassuring voice ''Don't fear any longer, we are really competent champions. We helped and saved many people before. We will vanquish whatever seems to trouble your lighthouse!''
The sailor nods his head and swear he will lead them to said lighthouse when they will be ready. And now the question is:
''What do you do?'' Valerie asks from behind her DM 's screen.
''I THROW THE DWARF ALL THE WAY UP TO THE LIGHTHOUSE!'' Helen shouts out.
''Nooo!''Mick says while rubbing his face with his hand. ''You can't throw the dwarf.''
''Why not?'' Simon asks ''It's funny when she throws me around!''
Mick lets out a big sigh ''We are still in the tavern and.... Just let me do the talking and planning ok?''
Faecerys looks back at her teammates, they are a weird bunch, but not a so uncommon group among other aventurers: a half-orc that decided to turn his life around and do some goods in the world. A dwarf that likes to put up a fight with anyone and anything. And finally herself, a healer that had the 'really great' idea to join them to assist them... They both gave her good money so she would agree to join them, but sometimes, she wondered if this was her best choice for a living. She raises a hand to catch their attention''Let's get some rest, so we can be ready for tonight.'' And without waiting for an answer, she head for her room on the tavern's second floor and lock the door behind her. Zark and Admur Evenbranch looks at each other and give each other a small nods, they still have a few hours to spare before going back to their room. They order a beer and asks the few customers if they want to play any card game. But once every single one of the customers either ignored or shushed them away (it seems like their reputations are growing around town) they don't have anyting else to do and they head upstairs for their room.
Advertisement
''I don't know why nobody wants to play with us!'' Helen says.
''Oh really?'' Valerie asks with her DM's eyes.
''Okay, just because... sometimes... our games end up in a bar fight doesn't mean that.... Oh come on! It's funny!'' Helen still try to argue, but Valerie only shakes her head while trying to hide her smile. ''So you sleep for a few hours until the sun goes completly down. You wake up and go back downstairs....''
The old sailor are waiting for the adventurers to show them the way. They make sure they have everything that they will need and follow the old man down a small road. After a few minutes, they can see a sharp light piercing through the night ''This is as far as I go. Good luck.''
The three others stare at the ligthouse, the barbarian and the fighter barely able to keep calm over the battle that may happen soon. The cleric gives them a small glance ''No.'' She blurts out before slowly walking on the small road to the lighthouse. The two other sighs loudly ''We can't never do anything fun!'' but they still follow behind her. Once they reach the lighthouse, Faecerys closes her eyes and try to sense anything radiating from the abandonned building.
''You feel something really faint, but you are not sure what it is.'' Valerie explains.
''Can I throw the dwarf now?''
''I have small legs, stairs are hard for me you know...''
''Fine, whatever. But I am not healing you if you hurt yourself!''
Zark and Admur burst through the door and look up at top of the lighthouse. It's mostly open with the stairs spiralling around the side of the building. They both look at each other in glee. The half-orc gets into position and the dwarf puts his feet in his friend's hands ''1....2....3!''
''Ok....So you want to go all the way up?''
''YUP!'' They both shout in unison.
''So you need a DC of 15 to succeed since the lighthouse is 15 feet tall. So Helen roll an athletics check and Simon a Acrobatics please.''
''Is ee you did your reseach DM. I'm proud of you.'' Mick says whilet rying not to giggle too much.
Advertisement
''Yeah...I planned ahead this time!'' Helen and Simon both roll their dice and...
Zark push his friend perfectly in the air, in a perfect arch so his friend can land on the last steps safely. But when Admur lands, he slips and tumble down a few steps before finally coming to a stop ''Ouch..''
''You okay, bud!?''
''YEAH!''
And they both laugh and cheer at their success. The cleric is already on her way up, questionning her whole existence and pass by Admur, purposely ignoring the few bruises and cuts he got from his not so graceful landing. When they are finally all at the top of the lighthouse, they look around the circular room, trying to find some clues of what could turn on the light every night. They spend the next few minutes looking around not finding anything, until Faecerys feels something strange. Like an overwhelming feeling of sadness and fear. She turns around, alerting her friends at the same time and they all freeze at the sight of a translucent shape in the middle of the beam of light. The two warriors instinctively pulls out their weapons and wait to see what is going to happen next.
''What do you do?''
''Can we fight a ghost?'' Simon asks.
''Do it looks like... mean or something?'' Helen jumps in.
''No, it only looks scared.''
Simon and Helen both looks at Mick ''Well looks like it's time to do some talking, right?''
''Finally some common sense from both of you!''
Feacerys slowly gets closer to the shape, trying to sense them as she goes ''We are here to help you. What can we do for you?''
The shape seems to take a bit more substance and they can all see that a man is standing a few inchs off the ground. He points at where the light is shining with this urging look.
''That's where your body is, isn't it?'' The ghost only nods. Admur gets closer as he sees that the ghost is trying to say something but no sounds are coming out of his mouth ''I can read lips a bit... Can you repeat that?''
He focus on the lips of the ghost, but it's struggling to keep his shape. The only thing he can understand is 'Be careful'. And the ghost slowly fades away, he still manage to give a last glance at where the light is shining before disappearing completly. The three adventurers look at each other and agree without a word that they are going to find this man's body and bring it back to his family to get a proper funeral.
It was a struggle, but they made it to the location safely, only a few more bruises and cuts for the three of them, but nothing serious. As they step into the light, they can see a corpse behind a rock. He looks pretty much like the ghost they saw in the lighthouse. Faecerys steps closer to see what could have happened to him while the two warriors look around. As Faecerys notice some strange biting marks on the body, the two other notice a small treasure chest a bit farther away. They get closer and as they reach to open it, they can hear Faecerys shouting ''WAIT!''
''But as you hear your friend's shout, you also see the chest baring it's teeth at you.'' Valerie explains.
''OOoooohhhh no you didn't! Not a mimic!'' Helen whispers.
''Oh yes I did! Roll for initiative!''
Advertisement
- In Serial215 Chapters
The Abandoned Hunter
“Dark Overlord! All hail the Dark Overlord!!!”
8 643 - In Serial38 Chapters
Adventures of an Old Dreamer
There once was a boy that lived in a village with no name in a remote corner of a province in a grand empire. Every villager had their place, and his was a shepherd's. Despite that, or perhaps because of it, the boy was an avid dreamer, yearning for adventure between each book he read. Decades go by in the blink of an eye and the young boy grows into an old man, yet remains a shepherd, watching his flock live and die in an endless cycle of life. Yet, the old man dreams on about adventure, never too old to indulge in his delusions. One fateful night, however, his endless prayer gets answered. Two immortals fall from the sky, and from their corpses, the old man acquires the means to strength in order to adventure. What does the world have in store for Lao Chen. --- A Xianxia with a little twist. Rated gore and traumatising, potentially triggering. Enjoy!
8 224 - In Serial56 Chapters
Be The Icy Beauty: A Xianxia/Cultivation Tale
The mighty Celestial Bing Meilu, transmigrated into the body of her child self, must survive in a dangerous Xianxia world all the while staving off the advances of arrogant young masters and wannabe protagonists alike.Why is life so hard for the Icy Beauty? (Crossposted from Sufficient Velocity and Space Battles) *Xianxia System Elements*
8 158 - In Serial6 Chapters
Addiction
Common knowledge today states that people take around 21 days to stop a certain, but it can get... more complicated than that. Today we will witness the writer, me, go through his journey of rehabilitating and getting his thoughts and priorities straight.
8 190 - In Serial6 Chapters
Zombie Country (Zombie Apocalypse #2) PREVIEW ONLY
Twenty year old college student Madison resides at a school that has been converted into a temporary fortress in an attempt to outlast the zombie apocalypse. As the remaining survivors battle not only hordes of the undead but other survivors as well, things quickly begin to unravel. Supply shortages, fears, and unruly soldiers threaten to tear the survivors apart from the inside, but things are held together by Specialist Aaron Monroe.When tragedy strikes their safe haven, Madison and a small group of survivors are forced out onto the streets of New York with few supplies, little hope, and numerous enemies all around them. Their plan to survive the zombie apocalypse is a dangerous one that leaves members of the group in doubt, but with no other options available to them, the group fights to secure a brighter future for themselves, battling zombies and facing other dangers along the way. Recommend for 16+
8 201 - In Serial22 Chapters
Enemies
George and Dream once enemies from the starting of 1st grade all the way till there senior year in high school. Until they are parried up for a at home project and are forced to go to each others house. This will just be a get work done and go home kinda thing. Right?smut lolART CREDITS: vnzndt on instagram!!!!
8 88

