Original Submissions by Iocque
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The Verrin and Kylori
Added on Jun 29, 2009An ancient tale is passed on.
This is told from a third-person perspective, with none of the characters' internal workings.
--------Glancing over to him and regarding him thoughtfully, you ask the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster, in allundean:
"So, do you know any stories?"A coarse chuckle resonates in the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster's throat, and he dips his angular chin in a pair of swift nods.
Sounding interested, you ask the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster, in allundean:
"Aye? Tell. Helps pass time, eh?"With a lift of one blunted claw, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Ah'll tell yah th'story of th'verrin an' zhe kylori."Dropping a nod as he tucks a leg underneath him, you say to the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster, in allundean:
"Alright."Curling one leg and resting his dusty leaf-carved bone shortsword across his knee, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Long time ago, when Verrin an' Kylori didn' look like zhey do now, zhey were one tribe, all of zhe Lap."
The tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster's hoarse words are only slightly obstructed by the multitude of thorned piercings that impale his lips and tongue.
With a slow gesture of one hooked claw, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says to you, in allundean:
"One day, 's Kylori's turn to go hunting, but he had nowhere to leave his baby."The male wearing a dusty thin, white-sandcloth facewrap watches the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster with interest, his head tilted slightly as he listens.
Continuing in a coarse, drawling rasp, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"So he went tah Verrin, but Verrin did nah want t'look after zhe baby."
In a squawking, coarse mimickry, his expression contorted, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster exclaims, in allundean:
"Nah, nah! Zhe baby cries too much! Crying will disturb th'camp! I cannah look aftah it!"
The late, red sun descends toward the western horizon.The male wearing a dusty thin, white-sandcloth facewrap's lips quirks into a grin at the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster's imitation, a hand reaching up to flick back an errant braid idly.
His hoarse rasp lowering into a sharper, resonating impression, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in
allundean:
"Th'Kylori said, 'It's a'right! Jus' sit zhere in zhe corner an' sing, an' my baby will be quiet. Just talk to him and it will be right, baby will be quiet.'"
His head canting aside as he continues the tale in his normal, dry tone, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"When Kylori said also that he an' his huntahs would bring back zhe meats they took to share, Verrin said he would watch zhe child."
With a sharp lift of two blunted claws, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"An' so, Kylori left baby wit' Verrin an' ran far, far from zhe camp across th'Lap to hunt. A'course, baby was crying. Verrin sat in zhe corner with child an' talked an' sang, but baby still screamed."With a hint of a grin, you say to the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster, in allundean:
"Poor Verrin."
Swiping his gloved hand through the air, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says to you, in allundean:
"Verrin got sick of crying! So, he went and got his big-stick an' hit th'baby's head with his war-club. Kylori's baby got real quiet, an' Verrin sat in the tent-flap, singing to zhe dead baby an'..."
Continuing in a dry tone, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Singing to zhe dead baby an' pretending."With a blink, you ask the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster, in allundean:
"He.. wait, what?"
Gesturing grandly with his blunted claws, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Verrin got clevah. He took a durrit-skin cloak, an' many leaves, and covered Kylori's baby, like it was sleeping nice an' quiet."
Momentarily reverting to his normal, sharper tone, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says to you, in allundean:
"Shuddup, Zhorn, an' lemme finish."The male wearing a dusty thin, white-sandcloth facewrap clears his throat, giving the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster a nod as he listens on.
A slow nod tips the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster's chin as he studies you patiently, both scar-edged eyes slitted.
Levelling a single hooked claw, along with an even look, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says to you, in allundean:
"Kylori came back from his hunt, all zhe huntahs heavy wit' meat an' hide for zhe big Lap-tribe. A'course he wanted tah see his baby, so he came tah Verrin, who was doin' what..."
The tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Who was doin' what Verrin does."
Partially concealing both eyes with two outstretched fingers, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Verrin got more clevah, still! Kylori asked for baby, but Verrin said..."
The giant crimson sun sets low in the west.
Rising into the harsh, sharp parody of an aquiline impression, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Nah, nah! Baby is sleeping! Don' need tah wake baby, I've been singin' like yah told me! Don' wake him."Shaking his head slowly, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"But Kylori did nah hear't. He said nah, he'll take zhe baby home wheah 't can sleep nice an' quiet. So, Kylori went into zhe tent for baby."
Hunching further into a stooped, bent-armed seat, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"But somezhing wasn' right. Baby was nevah that still, everyzhing was too still. Kylori picked up baby just as Verrin ran from zhe camp wit' all zhe speed legs could take from Akei'ta."
The wind slows down a little.His hoarse rasp resonating in his chest as he continues his tale, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Verrin ran far out into zhe thorns, an' Kylori ran through zhe camp yelling 'Ai! Ai! Baby! Verrin killed m'baby!' All his huntahs came, an' zhey ran far out into zhe thorns."The male wearing a dusty thin, white-sandcloth facewrap opens his mouth as though to say something and then shuts it wisely, giving the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster a nod instead.
Canting his head aside as he affixed you with a single, squinted eye, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Zhey set a light to th'thorns, an' sat, waiting for the smoke to go away. After not long, something flew from zhe thorns in a black arrah."
With a lift of two hooked claws, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says to you, in allundean:
"Kylori said, 'Verrin's spirit is a bird, now, as punishment!'"
With a final sweep of his gloved hand, the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster says, in allundean:
"Kylori an' his huntahs still wait for Verrin, an' Verrin still pecks at Kylori-child's babies an' eyes when they get zhe chance. Th'fight continues on to zhis very day."---------
This is told from a third-person perspective, with none of the characters' internal workings.
--------Glancing over to him and regarding him thoughtfully, you ask the tall figure in a dusty desert-camouflaged sandcloth duster, in allundean:
"So, do you know any stories?"A coarse...
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