The Life of Gilshalos

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#6699FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><B><U>The Ring Of Honour</U></B><B>  </B></FONT><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Ring Of Honour"><U><B><U>Home</U></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id128.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Site Map"><U><B><U>Site Map</U></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Calendar "><U><B><U>Calendar       </U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Missions"><U><B><U>Missions</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Events"><U><B><U>Events</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Member List"><U><B><U>Member List</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pictures"><U><B><U>Pictures</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id64.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Mage Spell List"><U><B><U> Mage Spell List</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><B><U>The Life of Gilshalos</U></B><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id130.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wanted"><U><B><U>Wanted</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id127.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Posts R.S.E."><U><B><U>Posts & R.S.E.</U></B></U></A><B><U>   |   </U></B><A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U><B><U>Contact Me</U></B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#6699FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <U>________________________</U></div> <div> <U>________________________</U></div> <div> This is the Story page and where anything can be posted (<U>NOTE!</U> No Vulgerarity will be allowed!) </div> <div> <U>________________________</U></div> <div> <U>________________________</U><U> </U></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#111111" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <I><U>The Life of Gilshalos</U></I><I><U>________________________</U></I></div> <div> <I>This is the story of Gilshalos (Part 1)</I></div> <div> Beginnings....</div> <bR> <div>         Gilshalos moved out on to the plain at dusk. The stores were all closed, so there wasn't any point in staying in town. The moon was up, and she moved swiftly down the road at a ground eating lope. She'd let the East Gate guard talk her into taking burned out mana orbs to the tower for renewal. Savannah Rarabs hopped all about her in the moonlight. </div> <bR> <div>      Gil wouldn't spend too much time on them…just a side trip or two to pick up some meat or a skin or two. They didn't bring much in the way of a bounty, but the cash was nice. She had her eye on a shield and a nice pair of leather troos. </div> <div> The bunnies weren't much of a challenge, but they were fleet and it felt good to match her sword against their antics. She spotted a crawler. The last time she had tried to take one of these she'd wound up blind, wrapped in spider silk and unconscious…and found herself wakened back in town. She wished Xarion were here, to cast hold or something on it, but she'd never know if she could best one alone if she didn't try it. </div> <bR> <div>            The beast was fierce, and she could feel herself weakening as she looked at it, her sword crunching against its hide. But it, too, was growing weaker in its struggles. In a last ditch defense effort, it shot out webbing, fouling her sword and hampering her movements. She gave another fierce whack to the crawler, and sighed with relief as it fell over. </div> <bR> <div>            She knelt, giving thanks for the victory, feeling strength flow back into her muscles. As she rose, she heard a cry, “Help! I'm poisoned!” </div> <div> She ran toward the sound, even though she knew that the cry came from the area where she had left the path to avoid a yagudo scribe. She might be able to best a crawler now, but the intelligence and spells of the yagudo could easily do in a simple warrior such as herself. </div> <bR> <div>                As she neared the bridge, she could see a battle on the horizon and a yag near the path. Heedless of her own danger, she tore into him. He responded by raining rocks upon her, and by casting poison. But still she fought on. A lucky stroke felled him, she stood battered, but breathing…and on her own two feet! She knelt to rest, but when she stood, another of the creatures came out of nowhere. She drew her weapon, and engaged the creature, trading blow for blow…till it fell. But she felt the world going dark about her, and she knew no more till she came to herself in Windhurst Port. “Well, that certainly stinks,” she thought. Then she glared at the sun. At least the shops would be open. </div> <bR> <div>              Shopping did little to relieve her mood, however. Even selling the fire crystals she had hoped to use in cooking, she realized only 425 gil. Her respect for Xarion, who had paid her passage into Windhurst, grew as she realized just how many mandragora buds and bunny skins had purchased her world pass. </div> <div> Unable to buy the leather pants her heart desired, she purchased a small shield and a pair of slops and went home to see what her moogle was up to. </div> <div> When she reached home, she realized slops are worn only by mages and thieves…not by warriors. Not wanting to track back across town to sell back the britches, she stashed them in the safe, strapped on her shield and went back out to the Sarutabaruta Plains. This trip she allowed herself only a few bunnies and carrion crows in route to the tower. The little guard gave her a lack-lustre greeting as she headed down the stairs. </div> <bR> <div>                  Gil set about restoring the orbs—only to be interrupted by a goblin weaver. Yags might fall before her blade, but this fellow only chuckled as she sank once more into oblivion.  So it was in a foul mood she was as she stopped at Shiva’s Gate to get a signet spell before heading out again. “Slay only worthy opponents,” said the pint-sized knight. So instead of terrorizing bunnies and bumblebees, Gilshalos took on a couple of crawlers, a carrion crow, and a goblin thug. Ten gil richer, and feeling strong and confident, she spotted one of the yagudo, and took off after him. As he turned, however, she realized he had a companion. The one before her fought fiercely, while the second cast spell after spell, poisoning, blinding, binding…”For honor,” she muttered. Then reason asserted itself. “Help!” she called.</div> <div>  </div> <div>            The gods were kind. Out of nowhere came a tiny healer and a strong warrior, who made short work of the beastmen. A tiny message from on high said, “no points”, but she thanked her rescuers gratefully, rejoicing in being alive. She hoped the other adventurer…the one she had not been able to reach…had been as fortunate. </div> <div> She chased a couple of bunnies and bagged them—just to enjoy the swing of the sword and to practice her sheildwork. She took on a carrion crow and a crawler. As the crawler fell over and died, the world sparkled about her, and the words “Level Six” flashed before her eyes. </div> <bR> <div>         When the lights cleared, she settled into a steady ground eating stride under the moonlight, going nowhere in particular. She reveled in the new energy that fueled her every motion. Wasn't Xarion going to be surprised the next time they went adventuring? Wouldn't Niala, her sword-sister, sit up and take notice at her next letter? The world would marvel at her shield, her new leather pants, and her bow. Yep, she was going to buy a bow and learn how to use it! Then those beastmen would sit up and take notice! </div> <bR> <div>             The moon shown down on the distant tower that drew closer with every stride. The night air was cool, and the road solid beneath her feet. Life was good. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> Gilshalos, for publication ONLY on Masks of the Red Rose web page; Original penned April 24, 2004. Submitted to Maach, November 13, 2004. </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>