{"id":3023,"date":"2020-12-10T22:20:50","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T03:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/?p=3023"},"modified":"2020-12-10T22:20:50","modified_gmt":"2020-12-11T03:20:50","slug":"3-realms-3-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/3-realms-3-14\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Realms 3-14"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Endea went through the streets on a horse-drawn cart with supplies. The day was getting hotter and hotter and her engine\u2019s condition was affecting her. The Galdredan Lava Kingdom covered a good 3\/4th<\/sup>\u2019s of the Under-realm\u2019s Southern continent and she was making a long westward journey along the southern coast. She kept rubbing her sides when she could. \u201cOof, my engine\u2019s bad,\u201d she groaned to herself. She arrived at the rail station she needed to be at and helped unload the supplies. Now, by law, all other transports are supposed to yield to any horse-drawn transports. However, there was always something that made it so the law wasn\u2019t obeyed. This time, it was hardly the other person\u2019s fault as the horseless carriage\u2019s brakes had failed and the accelerator was stuck in a continual climbing rate. Thankfully, the steering was still intact. As Endea got her cart moving once the train left with its cargo, the horseless carriage turned sharply to the right to avoid a collision. \u201cWATCH IT! THAT\u2019S TOO FAST!\u201d snapped Endea. As she turned to her left, her sides flared again, and she couldn\u2019t stop her horse in time. The horse broke free and the cart toppled, spilling the load everywhere and throwing Endea to the ground. The load was on the tracks too. Tenshal approached her and surveyed the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood grief, Ma\u2019am!\u201d he yelped. \u201cWhat happened?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had a bit of an accident,\u201d explained Endea. \u201cHelp me pick up the stuff and\u2026\u201d Her order was cut off by a train whistle. \u201cOh no, that\u2019s WAY too near!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan\u2019t we save any of it?!\u201d asked Tenshal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStay back, Ensign!\u201d ordered Endea. \u201cThat train will flatten you before you even touch one!\u201d Tenshal stayed back and the train whizzed by, smashing the supplies under its wheels. \u201cOnes dammit!\u201d swore Endea. \u201cHow many times have I told Arsha I need a new engine?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMa\u2019am?\u201d quizzed Tenshal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy engine played up once someone in a horseless carriage whizzed by me. I would have controlled the whole situation better if I could get a new engine!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on, Ma\u2019am, you know it\u2019s not Arsha\u2019s fault. It\u2019s Tuurk and Talair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis happens whenever your engine plays up?!\u201d yelped the nearby Stationmaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t stand there gawking!\u201d argued Tenshal. \u201cGo sound the alarm!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Tuurk and Talair met with Denstra again. Those two would never give up unless Aldarval ordered them to. \u201cOh, Commander Welmeva!\u201d called Tuurk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d snapped Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid you hear about Endea\u2019s accident at Sonfelor Station?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd if I did?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCommander, you and your Captain must realize,\u201d replied Talair, \u201cthat Endea\u2019s ancient engine is finished and so is she. Wouldn\u2019t you say, Mr. Tuurk?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, yes, Mr. Talair,\u201d agreed Tuurk. \u201cA relic like her needs to be retired from service instead of draining precious resources maintaining her. We believe she would do well among the relics being broken up to make new ships, don\u2019t we, Mr. Talair?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlways on the lookout for which ship\u2019s next to go. That\u2019s our business and the Endeavor<\/em> is at the top of our list.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat \u2018relic\u2019 has been a valuable resource herself!\u201d snarled Denstra. \u201cHer contributions far outweigh any shortcomings she might have!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHm, not very fiscally responsible, is it, Mr. Tuurk?\u201d mused Talair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, indeed, Mr. Talair,\u201d answered Tuurk. \u201cA more competent vessel commander would have no worries keeping Realmfleet finances in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUntil such a person is either in the Endeavor<\/em>\u2019s chain of command or is looking to replace Arsha,\u201d growled Denstra, \u201cwe shall continue to run this ship as we see fit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat can be arranged, Commander Welmeva,\u201d warned Talair. \u201cOne word from us and you may find yourself replaced by someone who has no pirate past.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c…Threaten me or bring up my days among Reb\u2019s crew again,\u201d hissed Denstra, \u201cand you\u2019ll be inspecting the ship\u2019s underside while it\u2019s in the air! Now SCRAM!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVery well,\u201d answered Talair. \u201cHave a nice day. Come, Mr. Tuurk. She needs to think it over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, indeed, Mr. Talair,\u201d agreed Tuurk as both men left Denstra alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat am I gonna do?\u201d moaned Denstra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

The clean-up was swift and Endea gave her statement to the emergency services. The driver of the horseless carriage came back to the scene after his car crashed, confirming that he had little control of his vehicle. Endea was taken back via an immunized Gorfanth and Malnar on their own carriage. Unfortunately, a male Minotaur driver from a new road-based delivery service arrived. The roads were becoming cheaper than Realmfleet or railways to transport goods and this driver was waiting for the chance to rub it in to Gorfanth especially. \u201cWell, well, well,\u201d chuckled the driver as he stopped his horseless carriage, \u201cwhat have we got here? Damaged goods and a hurting ship-type Mechanica? Another efficient Realmfleet maneuver!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTornoth, what are YOU doing here?!\u201d snorted Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know this guy?\u201d asked Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my brother,\u201d explained Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd to answer your question,\u201d continued the new arrival, Tornoth Steelhorn, \u201cI was just moseying around after another delivery. It was my third delivery of the day, three times more than yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh look, you can do math,\u201d snorted Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOoh, tetchy, aren\u2019t we? You Realmfleet lovers REALLY love to flaunt your pride!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSomeone has to, since you don\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened, anyways, brother?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you MUST know, there was an accident involving a horseless carriage and it almost smashed into Endea. One of yours, I take it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey, you can\u2019t pin that on us! We don\u2019t hire reckless drivers! In all honesty, you should have called us to help with the clean-up! We\u2019d have cleared it much faster than\u2026Gorfanth, WHAT, pray tell, are you looking at?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure, but\u2026okay, now I\u2019m sure! Look out! Angry mama bear!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWHERE?!\u201d Tornoth scrambled to the roof of his carriage to look for the bear but couldn\u2019t find it. He then became aware of Gorfanth laughing at him. \u201cOh, very funny!\u201d he snorted as he climbed back into the driver\u2019s seat. \u201cYou\u2019ll get yours! Now, if you\u2019ll excuse me, I\u2019ve got bigger prospects to worry about!\u201d He started his carriage and set off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, what made him afraid of bears?\u201d asked Malnar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe barely survived an encounter with a mama bear after getting between her and her cub,\u201d explained Gorfanth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026How is he not hamburger?!\u201d yelped Endea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

While that was going on, Arsha and Falnii set up the room for another dream weaving session. \u201cAre you ready?\u201d asked Falnii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cReady,\u201d replied Arsha. She breathed deeply and shut her eyes, feeling Falnii touch the back of her head with her own, then felt Falnii\u2019s cloud wrap around her. Falnii then chanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dream your dream with me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tell your woes to me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Show your troubles to me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dream your dream with me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Falnii chanted, Arsha fell into a deep sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Arsha woke up again in the ruins within the fjord. \u201c\u2026Fluffy?\u201d she called. \u201cHooves? Bonfire? Princess? Farm Boy? \u2026Hello? \u2026Anyone?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t be helped,\u201d replied the ominous voice. The area rumbled as the massive wave appeared. As Arsha stood, a light shone from behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026If you\u2019re what I need,\u201d pleaded Arsha, \u201cplease, show me hope!\u201d With a great effort, she turned around to face the light. The instant she faced the light, a tremendous force knocked her off her feet, carrying her into the air over the wave. As the wave hit the fjord, it crashed and broke up before settling down to the bottom of the fjord. Arsha was set back down as she looked around, noticing that the fjord was changing from just rocks to plants growing on it. Some of the flowers that grew, she couldn\u2019t identify. \u201cWhat in\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou dare deny the truth?!\u201d shrieked the voice. Arsha realized that the voice was right behind her. She turned and gasped in horror! It almost looked like her, but the doppelganger\u2019s mouth was wide and had exposed teeth. Its primary means of movement was a multitude of pink tentacles replacing the legs and long, thin arms with fearsome claws at the end of each finger. Its eyes were large and serpentine and its nine, scaled tails had toothy mouths at the tips. The rose in its hair had a pair of pink, thorny vines constantly moving, and its ears were curved and horned. Its back was hunched over, and its tongue was long and barbed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat in all the Realms?!\u201d cried Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAWAKEN!\u201d called Falnii\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Arsha woke up in a cold sweat like last time. She regained her bearings a lot quicker as she had a question on her mind. \u201cWhat WAS that thing?!\u201d she asked Falnii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was a manifestation of every bit of self-loathing you\u2019ve ever had,\u201d explained Falnii. \u201cIt\u2019s every parasitic thought you\u2019ve buried, feeding off of your hopelessness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs that why it looked somewhat like me? It IS me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, just a part of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI swear, I\u2019ve never felt such fear in me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLooking at every aspect you hate about yourself is frightening. Dream-weavers have to face that dark aspect of themselves every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow can I get rid of it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026I\u2019m sorry, but you can\u2019t.\u201d Arsha sighed at hearing that. \u201cArsha, like it or not, that\u2019s part of your being, your very soul. Everyone has that ugly side to them, an opposite to their usual self. Some prefer to release that ugly side in their actions while others seek to bury it. There\u2019s simply no way to get rid of it without damaging your soul. I\u2019m afraid the next session will be where you have to confront it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026Not looking forward to that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Endea went through the streets on a horse-drawn cart with supplies. The day was getting hotter and hotter and her engine\u2019s condition was affecting her. The Galdredan Lava Kingdom covered a good 3\/4th\u2019s of the Under-realm\u2019s Southern continent and she was making a long westward journey along the southern coast. She kept rubbing her sides […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1929,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,236],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-3023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-3-the-first-strike","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3023"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3023\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3024,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3023\/revisions\/3024"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1929"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3023"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}