New Story Preview
14 years ago
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I've sat down and forced myself to start writing again because it's gone on far too long since I've actually written something by myself without collaborating with someone. Here is the first page of what I'm working on. I really have no idea how long it's going to be. There's a bit of a
Strega influence involved in this story as I have decided to set it in the D&D world of Greyhawk and to make a few references to things in some of his stories, though there will be no overlapping of places in his stories(I don't think...) or interactions with the characters of his stories either. I'm trying to keep the setting at least somewhat true to the current political and territorial states of the region I have set it in, and I certainly hope I can keep it true to the setting and make a very enjoyable read. It will ultimately be a vore story, but here's just the opening alone, which I am very proud of so far as I have not even gone over it for improvement edits yet - it's very much in its raw form still. :)
No idea of what to name the story yet.
It was progressing towards evening in a secluded corner of the Adri Forest where a village set into the outskirts of the Flinty Hills was beginning to glimmer with the light of evening cookfires. The forest was considered to be a dangerous place by most, shunned by most humans save those with a sense of adventure and no small lack of courage. There was a single Elven city called Elversford in the region, and many dangers lurking at a great, abandoned Elven city its heart. However, despite all of these dangers, a tribe of gnolls had carved out a life there, finding plentiful game and even some sources of mineral wealth in the abandoned and sometimes dangerous mines in Yellowretch and Goldchasm that gnomes and others had left in the region that had been left untouched by the dwarves living in Flinty Hills.
The clan had been gradually driven to this place, surrounded on three sides by the large human kingdoms of Aerdy, Ahlissa, and Nyrond. On the northern fourth side their only options would have been trying to contend with the dwarves of Flinty hills for game to hunt - a contention that would surely have put the gnolls on the losing side. To the north was the Bone March, a land far more riveted by disarray than the occasional infighting in the other surrounding kingdoms. The gnolls could certainly try to survive there, but they would have to contend with many other bandit gangs and well organized Orc raiders to do so. There was also the problem that it was likely to fall into human control again sooner or later, effectively meaning the gnolls would likely be forced back into the forest with nowhere left to go anyway. It was a last option they preferred to avoid given the plentiful game to fill their bellies in the Adri Forest, the general lack of humans to contend with, and that the presence of a region where quite a few large Ettins were known to lurk keeping the Elves of the area from doing more than remaining quietly vigilant of their unwanted new neighboors(in Elven terms), and generally not bothering them.
The gnolls had seen enough fighting and losses to the seemingy inevitable advance of the human races that they had very little interest currently in trying to find sport hunting the Elves that vastly outnumbered their reduced numbers. The uncharacteristic cautiousness of the gnolls displayed when the very survival of their clan was at stake unsettled the Elves of Elversford and had kept them from eradicating the unwanted settlement, though Ettins between them or not, they had made it clear to the clan just whose forest this was and that the clan's presence only continued because the Elves allowed it for as long as the gnolls remained neutral towards them and respected the forest. They knew full well what had driven the clan into their region, and only a small sense of pity and preference to avoid bloodshed worked in the gnoll's favor. Still, in their current dire circumstances, it had instilled a grudging sense of respect in many of the clansmembers towards the Elves, something they would have never thought possible before now. It was likely to grow over time since the newest members of the clan were growing up learning to leave the Elves alone and why it was important to do so.
There was a lot of time and energy put into patrolling the outlying regions on their end of the forest for fear of one of the human kingdoms seeking retribution for the bloody fighting that had taken place before the clan had ceded its territory to the encroaching forces, but in recent weeks the pressing fear of being hunted down and eliminated to the very last gnoll was lessening as it seemed the humans were more interested in keeping their borders secure and letting the gnolls be the problem of the elves than venturing into the ill reputed forest that had just gained yet another habitant with a very bad reputation among most of human society. While the gnolls had gained a sense of respect towards the grudging benevolence of the elves, it was counterbalanced by a deep seated sense of hatred and need for vengeance against humans as no one in the clan had avoided losing a brother or sister, a mate or friend, or even their own cub in the fighting and subsequent desperate flight - precious things that could not be replaced like food stores and shelters.
Strega influence involved in this story as I have decided to set it in the D&D world of Greyhawk and to make a few references to things in some of his stories, though there will be no overlapping of places in his stories(I don't think...) or interactions with the characters of his stories either. I'm trying to keep the setting at least somewhat true to the current political and territorial states of the region I have set it in, and I certainly hope I can keep it true to the setting and make a very enjoyable read. It will ultimately be a vore story, but here's just the opening alone, which I am very proud of so far as I have not even gone over it for improvement edits yet - it's very much in its raw form still. :)No idea of what to name the story yet.
It was progressing towards evening in a secluded corner of the Adri Forest where a village set into the outskirts of the Flinty Hills was beginning to glimmer with the light of evening cookfires. The forest was considered to be a dangerous place by most, shunned by most humans save those with a sense of adventure and no small lack of courage. There was a single Elven city called Elversford in the region, and many dangers lurking at a great, abandoned Elven city its heart. However, despite all of these dangers, a tribe of gnolls had carved out a life there, finding plentiful game and even some sources of mineral wealth in the abandoned and sometimes dangerous mines in Yellowretch and Goldchasm that gnomes and others had left in the region that had been left untouched by the dwarves living in Flinty Hills.
The clan had been gradually driven to this place, surrounded on three sides by the large human kingdoms of Aerdy, Ahlissa, and Nyrond. On the northern fourth side their only options would have been trying to contend with the dwarves of Flinty hills for game to hunt - a contention that would surely have put the gnolls on the losing side. To the north was the Bone March, a land far more riveted by disarray than the occasional infighting in the other surrounding kingdoms. The gnolls could certainly try to survive there, but they would have to contend with many other bandit gangs and well organized Orc raiders to do so. There was also the problem that it was likely to fall into human control again sooner or later, effectively meaning the gnolls would likely be forced back into the forest with nowhere left to go anyway. It was a last option they preferred to avoid given the plentiful game to fill their bellies in the Adri Forest, the general lack of humans to contend with, and that the presence of a region where quite a few large Ettins were known to lurk keeping the Elves of the area from doing more than remaining quietly vigilant of their unwanted new neighboors(in Elven terms), and generally not bothering them.
The gnolls had seen enough fighting and losses to the seemingy inevitable advance of the human races that they had very little interest currently in trying to find sport hunting the Elves that vastly outnumbered their reduced numbers. The uncharacteristic cautiousness of the gnolls displayed when the very survival of their clan was at stake unsettled the Elves of Elversford and had kept them from eradicating the unwanted settlement, though Ettins between them or not, they had made it clear to the clan just whose forest this was and that the clan's presence only continued because the Elves allowed it for as long as the gnolls remained neutral towards them and respected the forest. They knew full well what had driven the clan into their region, and only a small sense of pity and preference to avoid bloodshed worked in the gnoll's favor. Still, in their current dire circumstances, it had instilled a grudging sense of respect in many of the clansmembers towards the Elves, something they would have never thought possible before now. It was likely to grow over time since the newest members of the clan were growing up learning to leave the Elves alone and why it was important to do so.
There was a lot of time and energy put into patrolling the outlying regions on their end of the forest for fear of one of the human kingdoms seeking retribution for the bloody fighting that had taken place before the clan had ceded its territory to the encroaching forces, but in recent weeks the pressing fear of being hunted down and eliminated to the very last gnoll was lessening as it seemed the humans were more interested in keeping their borders secure and letting the gnolls be the problem of the elves than venturing into the ill reputed forest that had just gained yet another habitant with a very bad reputation among most of human society. While the gnolls had gained a sense of respect towards the grudging benevolence of the elves, it was counterbalanced by a deep seated sense of hatred and need for vengeance against humans as no one in the clan had avoided losing a brother or sister, a mate or friend, or even their own cub in the fighting and subsequent desperate flight - precious things that could not be replaced like food stores and shelters.
MitchKenzo
~mitchkenzo
That's a pretty solid opening and backstory to the current events of the story, Ave. It should make for a pretty solid piece.

I've decided to try putting in that extra bit of detail I've normally avoided. I've become convinced it's worth it from all of
OnyxTao's stuff. Requires a lot of research and planning though.
OnyxTao's stuff. Requires a lot of research and planning though.
MitchKenzo
~mitchkenzo
Ohhh yes. Making a detailed backstory that fits into a world is not an easy task. It does make for an excellent read to whet the reader's appetite.
Prey
~bannor
Never got into D&D so I'm struggling with some of the names/places, but the writing is very solid (I didn't wanna copy Mitch's use of "solid" but it got stuck in my head and it works so there it is).

I've never played a campaign in that world either, but hopefully it isn't too confusing. There's not going to be a quiz at the end. XD
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