Seth Vilverin on 5/9/2008 at 20:32

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It's been donkey's years since i was last on this forum, so it's heart warming to see the community thriving. Hats off to the people who keep it alive and real.

Anyway.

I have started a writing project in the spirit of epic poetry. I thought I would screen the first three cantos from the first book here. To see if people can spot what type of project this is.

If people can spot it and realise it, I will keep writing the rest of the monstrous thing. If it's a lame idea, it will be scrapped like Karras cathedral.

*EDIT* Posting the full book here, might as well

Presenting: The Prince of Shadows, excerpt from planned Book I of III

BOOK I
Canto I
Darkened streets of cobbled stone
Paths that lead to riches own
To the left the trouble lays
Through the archway voices sway

Friendly hello from passer by
Armed and deadly, need not fly
To the passage truth be told
Abandoned well, it does unfold

Drunken revelry loud and poised
Struck from behind unleashes no noise
Leaves no trouble, naught that follows
Into the depths of watery hallows

Cellar torches bright and lit
Extinct with the element, one hit
Suspicion rises if luck runs out
They seek the entity, lurking about

Climbing slowly, exploring rooms
Shadows, darkness obscure and gloom
Grand hall shining of noble plight
Observer remains though out of sight

Final hallways stretching past
To all directions, deep and vast
Reward needs taking from pillar afar
Escape through all doors, left ajar

Canto II

Darkest caverns, abandoned mine
Shaft of horror, nightmare divine
Bring forth the guardians, nowhere to fare
Death is lurking for all who dare

Creature of terror waits in the pit
Fall to your doom, devoured by it
Platform remains the place to dwell
Push on and endure the stench of hell

Alas the living be spotted at last
Relief to have chosen the assigned path
Reality becomes the focus at hand
Stone and metal , no dust nor sand

Cells of despair all in line
Loneliness, despair all entwined
One savior to inject hopeful light
For one of them freedom is in sight

Demise is swift, the episode sound
Last words speak of adventure underground
A spark to start another quest
Preparation for continuance, which is best

Needless to go back, not required
Sudden end, euphoria perspired
Logical, rational never expressed
Difficulty tweaked, decline in stress

Canto III

Downward spiral in grassy hills
Silent and uneasy, traps of skills
Ladders lead towards the goal
Groans and sightings wither the soul

Sudden awakening, jumped from behind
Chase is shortened, unwind, unwind
Tomb of reckoning, pass it must
Larger caverns, never trust

Loved by one man especially
They patrol the cave meticulously
No wits or smarts, breaths of gas
Primitive, ancient wonders of the past

Symbolized beauty, this creature is
Its' name results in shivers of bliss
Memories of encounters plenty and full
The atmosphere given another pull

A sudden view in a future venue
The museum contains one, tried and true
Gilded placard describes the story
Displayed and preserved in all it's glory

Upward spiral, a change of setting
The family's horn silent and waiting
The shadows protected, mind at ease
Reward is spent as one might please

Canto IIII

Simple step leads to death
Arrow searing, wind of breath
Window speaks of culprits near
Engage them not, plot to steer

Streets and sewers winding on
Civil subject's whistling song
Wooden boards over water's filth
Evening obscurity, day to tilt

Apparition of truth in sole emblem
The letter revealing proprietor's name
Vengeance sought though still alive
Slow attack, one wish to strive

Words of mouth, words of dismissal
Rumors and hearsay, verbal drizzle
Will they close the institution
The sole place for feeble correction

The letter guards the trinket with glee
Purse on leather, hangs so free
Always vigilant, guarding with pride
A sudden sneak removes it in stride

Fire and brimstone hurtful to skin
Hides a trinket, optional win
Silver and gems gleaming so bright
One last lift, then back into night

Canto V

Beautiful danger of apparition
Brings the news of yet a new mission
Darkest of metal, evil it breathes
Levitating high, alone with no sheathe

Stone patrolled with bright color
Danger upon danger, endless endeavor
Enemy absent, though always there
Sees all through its' inward stare

A being not human in secret applause
A king amongst peers, lord he was
Deviance and betrayal, only rules
A game of conquest, hero to use

A test for skill, knowledge and strength
A worthy pawn perhaps at length
Still unknown the greater picture
It starts to form the primary structure

Metal replaced by new found blade
Same image, no powers, identical aid
A sweeter taste with every blow
An item who's mystery remains to know

Surprise on return, feel of resent
The mind twisted, apparently bent
Still the battle is yet to be won
For the story has truly naught but begun

Canto VI

A brush with death, greater than previous
Face the minions all so devious
Journey through water seems like ages
Roaming enemies instead of cages

Plaguing eye's searing whisper
Is yet to be heard as well as the banter
A form of evil greater than all
Only seen through a glitch in a wall

A little gold in hope of fortune
Placed on a grave, mud dune
Eerie sight, the dreaded church
Nothing alive, no birds in perch

Unreachable object needs a key
Not of this world, roots in divinity
A world's simplest building pleasure
Can reach the most obscure treasure

Hidden away the objects in question
Separate venues prevent intervention
Two guarded by rogue fanatics
Two buried in disaster antiques

A return trip is soon at hand
New assignments adds to the blend
No rest when zealously working
Constant trinkets all need lifting

Canto VII

Deeply buried, city of beauty
Still its' pride kept for infinity
It lays amongst its' own chaos
The secret kept so no soul knows

Small citadel shaped with care
Sunk in the sand legend to spare
Rock and gravel sharp and hard
Blisters the traveler shard by shard

Seek it here, seek it there
Seek the answer everywhere
Creatures and ominous beings alike
Protect what you seek, aiming to strike

Ramps and bridges, guarded by some
Only a start for what is to come
Dwell thus deeper into the scene
Feels the claws clasping serene

Two brothers split aside
East and west they humbly hide
One in a tower mountain high
One lays obscure lava nigh

The lake of fire studded with roofs
Flooded path, danger aloof
Bring them forth the coupled pair
One step closer to worldly despair

Canto VIII

Tread disguised, vigilant, with care
Their eyes are on you everywhere
Papers betray your one true self
Headquarters brimming with gilded wealth

Symbols forbid a further pass
Windows of saints in stained glass
Rouge upon rouge in dismal clutter
Easy to make it a failure utter

Below lies a hole of shadow
Tales of pain, tortured wallow
The order keeps a hold too firm
On civil disorder, long and stern

Siblings in hiding fullest of view
Engulfed in veils sparkling few
Hindrance proven in magical power
Occurrence of exposal desperately sour

Inevitable flight in paths of stairs
Blood rushing and standing hairs
Pursuit through kitchens, dorms alike
Fly from capture and personal spike

Family united grand appraise
Concept filled with grandeur glaze
Off once more to memory past
Wall with hole to pass at last

Canto IX

Oldest shade of palest blue
Same as always, never new
Time is felt through ancient rot
Centuries molding away through plot

To reach a trinket seen before
Ordeals to pass evasion of gore
Living aiding the uneasy dead
Straining to keep a clearer head

Friendly benevolent favor to ask
Burial completion, a devious task
Back and forth in dazed dash
Find the pieces, keep the flash

Reluctant prying in feeble reprise
Interest and spirit in horrid demise
Treading cold water in bitter rejoice
Parting ways as primary choice

A gap to bridge the final pry
The quest that needs to find an eye
Softly whispered words of submission
Tricks the owner of future attrition

Alas a part is now complete
Delivery vital for end to meet
A tale in almost winter unfolding
A twist before the final ending

Canto X

Sudden trickery, full resentment
Stopped, disabled vicious assailant
Eye for eye an ancient law
Vengeance imminent, glacial thaw

Vines in twine, harmonic bind
Downward spiral, upward wind
Drying up in silent wither
Freedom from the lethal tether

Yet another reprise location
Deeper, evil dark convention
Crawling hair with poisoned pouch
Creeping past the hidden crouch

Face of truth on character trait
Megalomaniac planned the bait
Beauty poisoned the frame of mind
Vigilance must never be left behind

Pagan rooted in body and soul
Brings one deeper unto the whole
Slender passion in forest broods
Blending in amongst trees she stood

The path is clear, work is cut
Trees and caves keeps him shut
Rise to challenge far and wide
Retrace steps and choose a side

Canto XI

Disaster is struck a greater ruin
Evil keeps its' cauldron brewing
Enemies lying in saddened hoards
Footsteps creaking wooden boards

Secrets are left in open books
These shall never receive more looks
Burning with flies in circumvention
Clearly struck with cruel intention

Heed a call for help mundane
People in need are all the same
Turned to one in desperation
Leader faced incarceration

A body lays in cave embalmed
Rats patrol the premises calmed
Sneak and feel the distant brush
Savior again in light green lush

Heavy burden back to carry
Floatation boards to use as ferry
Gratitude praises this solemn gesture
Greater man stands proud in posture

False copy soon to come
It shall aid to destroy the one
Hope arises from new won gift
End seems closer, harsh and swift

XII

Enter dear friend, enter at will
The one who wins is the first to the mill
Dabble in what used to be you
The end of the day will see you through

Scurry along the icy pass
Come forth in a glide of class
Crystal clear and faded blue
Touch it, feel the thrust into

How far goes this fox's den
Impossible to tell the coming end
Twist once further into the wall
Watch the tree stand sudden and tall

Fear and panic and crawling death
Finally climbing, out of breath
No more feel for gilded wealth
Take the jumps from shelf to shelf

See the omen passing through
Lines invisible which it drew
Waving colors circular motion
Chanting fear, destructive notion

Switched in secret, instant death
Rages on through final breaths
Final view of heroic shadow
Warning words of metal wallow

Seth Vilverin on 5/9/2008 at 20:50

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Brilliant, bang-spot-on

kudos =)

Yandros on 6/9/2008 at 13:14

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Amazing! Keep it going!

<Username> on 7/9/2008 at 13:29

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This is brilliant, keep it up!

theBlackman on 8/9/2008 at 06:03

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Great work. Much better than my two epic limericks for TDP and TMA.

Thanks for the excellent synopsis and the classical style. Dante would be proud.