Trial Run

[thehuntingbeast]

Okay I have procrastinated long enough. This is where I will throw a few chapters of some of the stories I am working on right now. Now this is the important part: I am not a writer or author! Nor do I plan to become one. So go easy with the grammar mistakes and such. Sometimes my muse just punches me in the face and tells me to get working!

To start out I will post the first chapter/prologue of a LONG trilogy I have planned that has very little written yet. It is not exactly as it appears to be at first but if you are interested I will start on the next chapter and introduce some of the main characters.
It hasn't got a title yet but I codenamed it 'Spare Time Waster' or STW for short.



The skies were cloudy over the city of Kotokram the capital of the nation of Naiburl. Citizens scurried to the shelter of their homes as the wind berated against them and the buildings of the city. Street vendors closed shop and guards put their hoods up and prepared to get soaked. The Garote River, which ran just east of the city was swollen from other recent rains as it poured more water into the lake the city overlooked. A few fishing boats out to catch more fish than their competitors even in the risk of a storm, pulled to the docks and began to tie up.

In the center of the city rose an enormous palace with tall spires and large domes showing off old architecture and recent restorations. Arcs ran along the walls sporting engraved figures of heroes and legends of old fighting beasts and preserving freedom. Now the citizens saw them as diminished figures of hope or brutal soldiers of their tyrannical ruler. New statues had been placed around the palace depicting giant lizards called khe’codo, the most recent addition the nation’s populace and indeed the reason for the empire. One such sculpture was of the current emperor, a khe’codo whose fangs were bared at a kneeling human at his feet. The barely clothed human was eternally struggling at the lizard’s tail that was wrapped around his neck. Supposedly this human was modeled after the deceased king of Cerydon, before he was assassinated and his peaceful nation was corrupted and changed into the empire. The lizard emperor wore only baggy pantaloons and a crown and he held aloft a pike that held his standard, a monitor head with its mouth agape and venom dripping from its fangs.

Inside the palace a guard stood outside one of the many meeting rooms where important matters were discussed. Tindohaj was restless and he hated guard duty. All he did was stand and stare straight ahead. While others in the army made ready to march to far off lands and purge their enemies he had been chosen to stay behind. He was tall with broad shoulders and boasted overwhelming strength. His red and black armored uniform marked him as part of the elite guard who protected Naiburl’s top leaders. A short sword was at his hip and he stood with a pike at his side, he was expertly trained with both. The human had joined the khe’codo forces in hopes of going to war with the bastards of Drovein. Instead of having the privilege of invading his hated enemies, his superiors had volunteered him at the palace where tedious inspections and rigorous drills kept the young man ready for battle without the promise of one.

Next to the guard lay the open door to the meeting room where the commander of the khe’codo met with his lieutenant and a newly arrived soldier. There was no reason to close the door, for this part of the palace was off limits to regular citizens and lowly soldiers and at each end of the hall stood two more elite guards with instructions that none may enter and live.

So it was that Lomonph, tyrant of Naiburl met with a low captain in his army who had just returned from a mission that had failed. The lizard dictator was seated in an elaborately decorated wooden chair at the back of the room facing the door. Just behind the soldier another khe’codo stood twitching his tail impatiently. This one wore a long robe of silk the color of a setting sun, in the style of the ancient civilization of Sornre. Montoraz had fallen in love with the historic nation of powerful mages and had adopted their customs. It was this expertise that was the reason this historian and sorcerer had been raised to the position of advisor to Lomonph. Behind the emperor stood a man with dark red light body armor and slanted eyes and crossed arms. Every soldier knew of their leader’s assassin and loyal bodyguard, Kai.

The rectangular table and other ordinary chairs were pushed to one side against the wall. Lomonph’s brown scaly skin accented the chair he was seated in and his red eyes, rare in his kind saw every detail of the frightened officer, from his darting lowered eyes to the bead of sweat running down his forehead. The lizard flicked his tongue out once, yes he could taste the fear dripping off this man. The sweat inside the officers black armor was not just because of the heat, it was because he, as any in the empire’s army had heard the stories of the Lomonph’s quick and deadly temper. Looking at the lizard the human saw that Lomonph had on his baggy green pantaloons and his black cape draped across his back and he absently wondered if that was all that he ever wore.

His leader’s hissing voice interrupted his thoughts, “Give me your report you cowering fool,” he said in the trader’s language. The emperor’s tall lanky advisor’s lipless mouth turned up in a vicious smile, his ruler was growing impatient and that meant the officer had every reason to fear for his life.

The soldier thumped his right fist to his chest in a salute and stammered his reply trying to ignore Lomonph’s long sweeping tail and his nerve wracking stare. “S-sir, I managed to infiltrate the castle with my troupe. W-we saw the staff . it was on display for the public like they said.”

The tyrant’s eyes narrowed in mock suspicion. He already knew of this man’s failure. “So where are your subordinates and the staff now?”

The officer gulped, “There were too many guards, at least two score. T-they were everywhere like they burst from the walls, we were surrounded. It was a t-trap. We stood no chance.”

Lomonph jumped up out of his chair and roared at this soldier, “You cowardly worm. Did I ask for excuses? How did you escape if you were surrounded?”

The man was ready for this question, “I fought savagely, cutting my way through them and…”

“Enough. Give your lying tongue a rest,” yelled the emperor.

Desperately the soldier tried a different approach. “Sir I-I have brought back valuable information. I can help in the next attempt in acquiring the staff,” he pleaded.

The lizard king sat down sat down once again and calmed himself. Montoraz saw this as a bad sign but the officer remained oblivious. “Hmm. You have only just returned yes? Travel weary?” The human nodded hoping his life would be spared. “Do you require rest?” Again the soldier nodded and let out a breath of air. “Kai.”

Faster than the officer could blink the assassin sprang into action and sliced into the man’s neck with the katana he drew in an instant. Lomonph smiled as he watched the soldier hopelessly try to stop his lifeblood spilling onto the floor. Lomonph watched the man die then nodded at his assassin. He was a lucky find, a wanderer from distant lands unheard of.

“Guard.” Montoraz called to the hallway. Tindohaj entered the room, stood rigidly at attention and saluted. Get a servant to clean this up.” Tindohaj saluted again and exited the room letting out two short whistles at his companion guards as he resumed his place beside the door. Business as usual.

“Now then,” sighed Lomonph, “do you have another plan, Montoraz.”

“Yes, your eminence,” hissed the advisor. “Since subtly failed a more direct solution is needed. I shall implement it at once.”

The lizard emperor nodded, “Excellent. You are sure they are unaware of the power they hold?”

“As a human child playing with a poisoned dagger, my spies assure me” Montoraz replied. “They will not realize that their relic yet has strength until we unleash it upon them.”

Lomonph put his clawed hands together, “And Kigonohdi?”

“They only wonder long it will take to destroy Drovein. Also unsuspicious of their new allies,” beamed Monotraz. “The empire will be without equal after this. Not even the elves and dwarves together would dare oppose us.”

“Make sure everything goes according to plan or you will find it much easier to study long deceased mages in the next world,” the lizard emperor smirked. Montoraz bowed deeply and kept his yellow eyes fixed on his leader’s blazing red one’s before departing with much haste.

Tindohaj saw the advisor rush from the room and heard the maniacal laughter of the emperor echoing from the room and into the hall. He shuddered at the sound. Those that did not fear Lomonph were insane or blessed by the gods themselves, he thought.

Outside the palace it started to rain and lightning flashed in the distance. The storm was approaching.


So tell what you thought and I'll seee if I can start on the next chapter.

[gryphonpoet]

Just to let you know that this isn't sitting alone. I'm reading the story, but reading fiction takes me a while...

One thing, though. You need to put some kind of paragraph break in. It lets the story be read more easily. I suggest either keep the block paragraph and make a space between the paragraphs or indent the 1st line of each by five spaces.

I haven't read very far at all, but I do like the tone you've set down. The rain adds dreariness to the decomposed empire's capitol. Nice...

More details to follow.

[thehuntingbeast]

I had this pretty well set up in Word but the transfer leaves something to be desired. I'll see if I can't fix it up a bit.

[gryphonpoet]

Yeah, MS Word acts goofy a lot... It just thinks it is a gifted child. ;D

Now, about your story...

In paragraph 4, I bring up a small point but doors don't lay, they stand. Unless the door is set into the floor. Also in paragraph 4, you mention 2 other guards If they are Khe'codo, you have an opportunity to contrast the human with the conquerors of his homeland.

In paragraph 5, you start off "So it was that Lomonph met with a low captain...". Passive voice feels so awkward when overused. Maybe something like, "In this room, Lomonph met with a low captain... " Which begs the question, does the rank structure include a high captain? Will one of the other characters later on hold the rank of high captain?

One more thing, be careful of punctuation. It can change the meaning of an entire paragraph, especially commas.

I like how vile and terrible the emperor is. I also found myself hating the assassin as well. They seem a balanced pair.

I hope you're not too long on getting the next chapter in.

[thehuntingbeast]

If you hate the emperor now just wait until his cruelty really picks up. As for the assassin I think it will be interesting to see how you react to what I have in mind for him.

I have always loathed punctuation anyway.

The 'low captian' actually went through a few changes when he got to paper. First he was a scout, then a soldier, but I felt he needed his own command. I think it was supposed to be 'lowly soldier' before I changed his rank and I didn't quite make the transition to a captian

Thanks for the input.

The next chapter could possibly a little while longer than I had expected because I now have a major decision to make conscerning the three main characters. I'll try to put it up as soon as possible.

[thehuntingbeast]

Okay I came to a decision on my epic. At first three students from our world stumbled into another mythical one I call Tegaran. This complicated things like, how would these students communicate with the worlds residents? Where, how, and why did they did they go through this other worldly portal? Well I did figure out some answers but more and more complications arose until I decided to change it that the main characters were Tegaran residents from a different continent than where the story takes place. The characters were not changed only their origins. So here is part of the first chapter for your enjoyment. And as always constructive criticism is happily accepted.


The simple one mast merchant ship in the docks of Rylath was almost ready to sail. The crew was finishing haulings aboard the cargo and making the Dragon Queen ready for the high seas and the sun was shiny bright overhead. At the plank watching the final passengers board was the first mate, a burly muscular man in brilliantly colored clothing and a deep bellowing voice he used to give orders to the crew. Close by a father and his son, now reaching manhood, conversed softly.

“I will not overcome this burden father,” said the boy, his voice soft spoken and nervous. His head hung low and his dark brown eyes stared at his feet. The dark curls of his hair dangling over his face as he spoke.

The tall bearded man that was his father lifted the boy’s chin with his calloused hand. “Dane, my son, long have you stayed in your brother’s shadow. Always have you been content to wander the fields and forests where you shun contact from others. Now is your chance to stand out and become a man with your own life filled with adventures and stories of your own.”

Dane looked into his fathers caring eyes and pleaded, “I will surely fail your expectations and disgrace myself and our family name.”

His father shook his head and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder and placed a piece of paper in his son’s hand, “Listen to me and for once banish all thoughts of failure. Confidence, lad, will lead you to greatness. You must believe in yourself as I believe in ya. I raised you boys to be strong and kind. No matter what you think of yourself know that I will always love ya . Go now and learn your place in Tegaran.” With a slight shove he guided Dane towards the plank to the ship.

The first mate looked at the boy in farmer’s clothes as Dane handed him the scrap of parchment his father gave to him. “Another cabin boy eh? Will it’s signed by ol’ Barl so git yerself ta Split Bill. He’ll give yer nuff work ter stay busy,” he said gruffly in the traders tongue. Dane nodded and still casting his gaze downward walked up the ramp onto the ship. He turned and waved goodbye to his beloved father who in turn waved back before carrying out his orders. His father had tears in his dark eyes as he turned and headed back the stables to fetch his horse, a prayer on his lips for his son’s safety.

All crew, cargo, and passengers now boarded the ship cast off on another voyage, headed across the sea on a long journey to the land of Avenach. The first mate hollered, the crew obeyed, and the captain smiled and said his usual prayer gods for safe sailing.

For several days Dane worked on the Dragon Queen alongside another young lad doing dirty work and learning the basics of being a sailor. He was a hard worker and he loved to learn new things but his life had just turned around on him. He used to sit in the forest and learn its secrets and study other languages and societies whilst his elder brother, Jase, would train with different weapons and fighting styles. Jase was always there to look after him until he enlisted with the militia. After that he was never around to stop the other boys from giving Dane a good drubbing. Finally his father was fed up with his sons self imposed isolation. He convinced a local merchant to take Dane on as part of the crew of one of his ships figuring the boy needed a kick start into manhood. Dane was slow to socialize on the ship, still preferring his own company. On the small ship with a talkative companion named Chyt there was rarely the opportunity to be alone.

Dane was indeed learning cooking and cleaning and the like, but he did not enter the conversations of the sailors and passengers as the talked of heroes in shining armor, brutal tyrants that ruled with an iron fist, or blood thirsty monsters attacking towns. At his core Dane still felt like the shy boy of his youth. Chyt, the other cabin boy was always trying to draw him out with his joyous spirit and light jests but little would change Dane into a social being.

As withdrawn and reserved as he was normally Dane only got worse when he was around the shy Tirya, the pretty young cook’s assistant. She had shoulder length dark brown hair and matching brown eyes full of wonder. With her light frame and slim waist she would glide around the kitchen doing her chores. She often saw Dane hurry into the kitchen looking intently at the floor, handing something to the cook or just telling him something about the meals. He sometimes would try to sneak peeks in her direction when she wasn’t looking before he would rush out.

When Tirya caught him glancing at her she would blush then smile at him and his face would turn a deep red and he turned away bashfully. They talked sparingly in short sentences, usually only when it was necessary like when the cook was out. These encounters were filled with blushing and stammering from both of them.

After one such occasion on deck after dinner Dane saw his friend Chyt approaching. He had a confident stride with a slight bounce in it that revealed Chyt’s cheerful disposition. His wild blond hair was blowing in the sea breeze and a knowing smile lit up his face. Wiping his hands on his green smock he crossed his hands over his chest and stood in front of Dane wordlessly.

“What?” Dane asked finally

“Well, I thought I saw a pair of ripe beets over here so I thinks to myself ‘I’ve got a powerful hunger. Why don’t I just go pick them for an after supper snack?’”

Again Dane looked downward and blushed. Chyt gave a gleeful shout and grabbed Dane in a headlock. “Aha, another beet! Now then to the kitchen! Maybe there is a young lass who has a recipe for beets!” he cried.

Dane wrestled from his friends grasp, “Keep your voice lower you clod,” he hissed.

Chyt just laughed and said, “Be calm. After a fortnight of both of your smitten behaviors all aboard this small vessel know the game.”

The young cabin boy was taken aback. Had he been so obvious? Chyt’s words also implied that Tirya felt the same as he, was this true? “Does she… uh… well I mean does she…”

The other boy roared with laughter. “Are you so blind that a maid’s batted eyelashes and glances go unnoticed? Come let us go and let us go and ask Tirya what feelings she has,” he said turning and taking a step. He was stopped by Dane’s trembling hand on his shoulder. The boy turned Chyt who saw that his face was drained of color.

“Wait! Please no. What will happen when my advances are turned away in scorn? Tirya would not accept a quiet farm boy from the forest.” Dane was terrified by rejection ever since three years ago. A noble and his daughter had arrived in his village with a caravan and stayed at the inn. When Dane had seen the young girl he had spoken sweet words of her beauty and grace she had taken one look at his dull clothes and tussled hair and gave him a tongue lashing that stayed with him long after she had left.

The sadness in his friend’s eyes told him everything. “Dane, my friend, fear not,” he replied softly. “She and I have already spoken and she has confessed that she like you and I mentioned you felt the same. She was overjoyed upon hearing this.”

Dane’s eyes sparkled and his breath caught in his throat. “She… she said that? Tirya truly likes me?”

“Let Rauden strike me where I stand if I lie,” said Chyt invoking the god of war’s name. Dane’s face brightened with a smile from ear to ear. He suddenly embraced his friend in a fierce hug and broke out in happy laughter that Chyt soon joined. “Take care to talk to her soon. The love of a good lass is not a thing to throw about lightly.” They stood at the railing watching the setting sun for a while, Dane thinking about this news and Chyt letting him cope with the turn of events and hoping now he would open up and talk.

After a short time Dane clapped his hand on his fellow cabin boy’s back, “On the morrow I shall speak with her. Tonight let us retire to the galley and have drinks in Minma’s name so that the goddess of love shall grace our meeting with her blessings.”

Together the two lads strode off in high spirits for a grand day to come.


I will post the next part of this chapter shortly. In that part things get a little wild, a lot less joyuous, and out of hand. After that I will post a little bit from different parts of the story I like or that describe the world of Tegaran and its inhabitants.

[gryphonpoet]

Before I start reading, is the first post actually a prologue? Or is this an alternative first chapter?

[thehuntingbeast]

So here is another part of the first chapter for your enjoyment.


Dane awoke with a start to a jolt of the ship that knocked him from his bedding. His head pounded from the drinks last night and his vision was slow to clear. He quickly tried to stand but the violent rocking of the ship tossed him to the floor again. He looked to Chyt’s bedding and found that it was empty. After the ship settled in the water he jumped up and ran up to the deck. People were running everywhere, some were screaming and others yelled orders. It was still dark outside and the crescent moon shone overhead. He heard several people yelling to get the lifeboats ready and to get people out of the water.

There was mostly crew in the water swimming, well in all directions. A few passengers were struggling to keep their heads above the water. The thing that frightened Dane the most was a large wake like the one behind ships leading from the port side of the ship out towards sea. Instead of a ship leading the wake it was a giant fin! It was easily as large as the ships mainsail and it was turning around to head back towards the ship!

Gazing all over the deck he saw neither his friend nor Tirya. The first mate ran past Dane with some of the crew he had rounded up. Each of them had a harpoon or crossbow at hand. Upon looking at the fin again Dane knew that any defense the crew put up it would useless against such a behemoth. He figured everybody else knew that too but then decided he that doing something was better than sitting back waiting to die.

The captain was at the helm with the helmsman fighting to get the ship to evade the next pass of the sea monster but to no avail, the thing was much too swift for the ship. Dane rushed to the nearest life raft at the stern and with the help of two other crewmembers hoisted it over into the water. Next he ran about gathering the passengers and leading them to the raft.

A shout from the first mate alerted everyone of the beast’s speedy approach. The fiend raised its head out of the water and prepared to strike at the ship. Its eyes were large green orbs on the sides of its head that looked upon the ship and defenders with hunger. The crew hefting spears and crossbows let loose their weapons and bolts at the creature’s scaly blue green skin. Most of them bounced off the thing’s scales but a few lodged into the shining skin. If they did any harm it was not apparent as the monster reared back and came crashing onto the deck and the pitiful protectors. The tiny craft snapped under the fiend’s weight and split in two.

Dane was flung over the leviathans back and into the sea. He struggled under the water unable to discern up from down at first. He was quickly running out of breath as he opened his eyes and saw the moonlight above him. Swimming towards the surface he thanked his father for taking him to the river by their field and teaching him how to swim.

He broke the surface of the water and quickly looked around. There was debris all around him, wood boards, pieces of cloth and floating cargo. He saw a few people struggling in the water and others floating lifeless. Knowing his duty he grabbed a large wooden slab and clambered on. When he tried to paddle to the nearest survivors an eruption of water overtook them and Dane saw the dreaded monster that destroyed the ship surface with its mouth agape taking in parts of the ship, debris, and struggling swimmers.

Then it was gone as fast as it had appeared leaving Dane and his makeshift raft riding the swells farther away from the now sunken ship. He cried out to the night hoping against hope that someone else had made it off the ship alive.

“Ahoy! Is there anyone out there? Chyt?” he called, “Tirya? If you hear my voice, please answer!”

The horizon was beginning to brighten heralding a clear day as Dane’s voice grew hoarse with still no replies.

Finally as the sun came into view he broke off his useless attempts at finding other survivors and lay on his back despairingly. How the gods could be so cruel he knew not. Was this all just a game to them? Did they promise happiness only to snatch it away to watch humans lose hope and beg for a better way? This was to be a great day full of laughter and talk that would signal a blossoming relationship with Tirya. Now she and his only friend were gone, eaten by that ferocious sea monster. Tears welled up in his eyes and he cried until he fell into a merciless sleep filled with dreams where he saw his friends swallowed, crushed and drowned.

The first sensation Dane was aware of was a slight pulling on his sleeve. In his dreams it was Tirya and Chyt. They were calling out to him and staring at him accusingly. How could you let us die, they cried. You abandoned us, they called.

“No,” he whispered, “no… I wouldn’t.”

Opening his eyes he was blinded by the sun bearing down on him. Next he noticed that the rocking of the sea had stopped yet he heard the gentle waves. He sat upright and startled the gull that had been nipping at his sleeve into a hasty flight.

Dane shielded his eyes from the sun and looked about him with blurred vision. As it cleared he discovered his raft had landed at the tide line of a deserted beach. Above the shore a forest grew tall and green. He was exhausted from his ordeal at sea. The rumbling in his stomach reminded him that he hadn’t had food or drink since last night.

He stood and paused to gain his balance before looking about for signs of life. Farther down the beach he saw a dark speck. Abandoning his raft he ran towards the spot his mind racing. Was this another survivor? What if it is another joke from the gods and only a bit of flotsam? He dared not hope that it could be one of his friends in case it turned out to be a piece of cargo.

From a distance he saw that it was a shape positioned on a piece of a ship’s hull much like his own raft. Upon reaching the area he leaped in delight as he recognized the green smock Chyt was still wearing. Then another thought came to him that stopped his breath, what if he was dead? Sending sand everywhere he drooped to his friend and laid a hand on his chest. Yes! He was breathing! Then he noticed a blanket over a form next to the unconscious cabin boy. Dane removed the blanket slowly and there under the blanket was the motionless Tirya. Gently he placed his hand above her mouth and gave a shout of glee as he felt her breath.

Chyt stirred beside him at the sound of Dane’s voice. “Buddy? Is… is that you?”

Dane grabbed his friend’s hand, hauled him roughly upright and clapped on the back. “I cannot believe what I am beholding! You live! I worried so after that thing destroyed the ship.”

After bidding Dane to stop smacking and pawing at him Chyt said, “Fair enough, now put an end to your prattling. Where are we?”

“I know not but it matters not you are both alive!” Dane replied.

“Water,” Tirya muttered rousing from own sleep.

At this Dane quieted down and became more placid. “I, uh, I’ll go and find some.”

Quickly Chyt grabbed his hand sooner than Dane could pull away. He gave his friend a smile and said, “No I’ll go. I’m built of sturdier matter than you.” Dane gave a sound of protest but Chyt stopped him. “She had a very close to joining the gods in their kingdom. Comfort her,” he whispered. After that he stood and walked down the beach leaving Dane alone with Tirya who was slowing coming to.

She looked up into his brown eyes and then recognition flashed in hers. She boosted herself up hastily and hugged him to her tightly. “Dane, thank the gods! You escaped the ship in time!”

The boy blushed and stammered a reply. Tirya remembered herself and jerked away. “I…I’m sorry I, uh, don’t know why I did that.”

Dane regained his composure and shook his head, “Please don’t apologize. It was natural and I didn’t, uh, mind.” The kitchen maid smiled and hugged him again.

“I was so scared, Dane.” She said softly in his ear. “I didn’t know what to do. It was so awful.”

He rubbed her back gently and shushed her, “It’s over now. We made it out with our lives intact.”

She cried openly now, “It rose from the depths and swam right at me as I tried to swim upwards. It bumped against me and I felt its slippery skin.” She sobbed and Dane kept reassuring her that everything was better now. She calmed after a few minutes and pulled back a little to look at Dane. She kissed his cheek lightly, “You have my thanks. I needed to be held, if only just for a moment.”

“Hoi, you two come and drink from a stream I have found!” Chyt called to the sitting pair.


I imagine it will take you a good while to get through all this so the only other posts based on this story will be at different points that I like, could use help on, or just want to share.

Just so I don't leave you hanging Chyt is revealed to be a noble's son out to learn a trade in the capital city of the island nation they now reside in, his father died in the shipwreck. Dane decides to try and continue his career as a sailor by heading for the port city. Tirya will also continue to see the world by travelling from port to port.

[thehuntingbeast]

Gryphon if you can see this post way down here yes the first post I did is the prologue. It has details about the plot for the future to get you interested in how everything ties in.

[gryphonpoet]

No problem then. I'll read it over the next few days and get some viewpoint for you.

[thehuntingbeast]

I'm still not sure if I will even try to get this trilogy into print but I still want to make it good. That is why I need to learn a few things. If you know where I can learn these things, such as internet sites, training facilities, books, or whatever, please speak up:

weapons training, including bladed, blunt, ranged, as in archery, pole arms, unarmed combat, husbandry, horse riding, horse breeds, armed cavalry tactics, medieval siege and battle tactics, medieval armor, medieval architecture; including castle, temples, cathedrals, manors, and housing, cooking, baking, and preparing food.

While I'm at it if a few fantasy or sci-fi readers could express what you think magic is, should be, can or could do, be it fictional, fantasy, or realistic in your view along with what titles such as wizard, witch, sorcerer, mage and such mean to you.

Thanks!

[The Hatter]

You should come talk to me about a few things. I have a few books on the subject of medieval life, as well as being interested in it I could find a few websites for you....not to mention I know my fare share about war in the time period.