The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Revenge of the Entish Bow

Birdland · 01-22-2003, 01:32 PM

"Where are the Elves off to? The pass is too far away."

The fox's eyebrows raised in astonishment. "Too far"? But these were the Uruks, the mighty, mighty Uruks. They knew no pain, no fear, and they had no concept of distance, either. This did not sound like the Gravlok of old, who would fearlessly lead his men on missions that that would last months of a time, refusing to ask directions or check the maps.

And what about the wooden appendage that had addressed him so cheerfully? The only other time that the fox had heard a bit of lumber speak was...at the council! The poorly carved bow that the Elven maiden had carried. There had to be a connection. But where?

The fox desperately tried to think of some information that would satisfy Gravlok, and insure that he could leave this little pow-wow with some kind of reward, which at this point seemed to mean "in one piece." The fact that Gravlox's Warg was pacing slowly towards him did nothing for his state of mind.

eeerrrrr...sir...your Warg...would you mind terribly?..." The fox squeezed his eyes shut and crouched in the dirt as the dirt-colored steed stood over him, saliva dripping from his fangs onto the fox's head.

"Wha...? Oh. Here, Shagoff!" Gravlox pulled a yellow, rubber Zerl out of his pocket and squeezed the toy, which gave off an enticing
HU-WHEE-HUH! HU-WHEE-HUH!" sound that even made the fox's ears prick up.

The effect on Shagoff was immediate. The carnivorous beast of burden looked expectantly up at the toy in Gravlox's hand, prancing his front feet and offering an insane grin that would haunt the fox's nightmares for years to come. Gravlox held the rubber Zerl high over his head, cooing "Ya want it? Ya want yer squeeky-zerl? GO GET IT!" And with a mighty gesture, he flung his arm out towards the waggleberry bushes lining the road. The great Warg went bounding off into the undergrowth, and Gravlox returned the toy to his pocket.

"OK, you've got ten minutes. Spill yer guts. or Shagoff will spill 'em fer ya."

Now unfortunately, the little fox had not stuck around long enough to discover just where the plucky band of Elves, Men, Half-Elves, and Half-Halfings were heading. He had thought that just the fact that they were just out there, somewhere, would be enough to interest the Orcs. But apparently Gravlox had become more particular in his middle-age, and was actually attempting to come up with some kind of plan. The fox just hadn't counted on that.

But the little vulpes' much sharper mind had been coming up with a plan. The fact that Gravlox's prothesis could speak might be of some interest to the Elven-maid who bore the verbal bow. But he would have to mislead Gravlox and his minions in order for him to find the party first and offer them the information that he carried. How could he throw the Orcs off the scent?

The fox decided that he would have to send the Orcs off to the most unlikely destination. Someplace that was so disgusting, banal, and tedious, that no Elf of high standing would ever possibly want to go there. There was only one country that fit the bill, as far as the Fox was concerned.

"Topfloorien! The party of Elves is headed for Topfloorien! If you can lay-way them before they reach that country on the banks of the Pretty-Good River, you'll be sure to catch them!"

[ January 23, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]

01-22-2003, 01:32 PM	#47
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	"Where are the Elves off to? The pass is too far away." The fox's eyebrows raised in astonishment. "Too far"? But these were the Uruks, the mighty, mighty Uruks. They knew no pain, no fear, and they had no concept of distance, either. This did not sound like the Gravlok of old, who would fearlessly lead his men on missions that that would last months of a time, refusing to ask directions or check the maps. And what about the wooden appendage that had addressed him so cheerfully? The only other time that the fox had heard a bit of lumber speak was...at the council! The poorly carved bow that the Elven maiden had carried. There had to be a connection. But where? The fox desperately tried to think of some information that would satisfy Gravlok, and insure that he could leave this little pow-wow with some kind of reward, which at this point seemed to mean "in one piece." The fact that Gravlox's Warg was pacing slowly towards him did nothing for his state of mind. eeerrrrr...sir...your Warg...would you mind terribly?..." The fox squeezed his eyes shut and crouched in the dirt as the dirt-colored steed stood over him, saliva dripping from his fangs onto the fox's head. "Wha...? Oh. Here, Shagoff!" Gravlox pulled a yellow, rubber Zerl out of his pocket and squeezed the toy, which gave off an enticing HU-WHEE-HUH! HU-WHEE-HUH!" sound that even made the fox's ears prick up. The effect on Shagoff was immediate. The carnivorous beast of burden looked expectantly up at the toy in Gravlox's hand, prancing his front feet and offering an insane grin that would haunt the fox's nightmares for years to come. Gravlox held the rubber Zerl high over his head, cooing "Ya want it? Ya want yer squeeky-zerl? GO GET IT!" And with a mighty gesture, he flung his arm out towards the waggleberry bushes lining the road. The great Warg went bounding off into the undergrowth, and Gravlox returned the toy to his pocket. "OK, you've got ten minutes. Spill yer guts. or Shagoff will spill 'em fer ya." Now unfortunately, the little fox had not stuck around long enough to discover just where the plucky band of Elves, Men, Half-Elves, and Half-Halfings were heading. He had thought that just the fact that they were just out there, somewhere, would be enough to interest the Orcs. But apparently Gravlox had become more particular in his middle-age, and was actually attempting to come up with some kind of plan. The fox just hadn't counted on that. But the little vulpes' much sharper mind had been coming up with a plan. The fact that Gravlox's prothesis could speak might be of some interest to the Elven-maid who bore the verbal bow. But he would have to mislead Gravlox and his minions in order for him to find the party first and offer them the information that he carried. How could he throw the Orcs off the scent? The fox decided that he would have to send the Orcs off to the most unlikely destination. Someplace that was so disgusting, banal, and tedious, that no Elf of high standing would ever possibly want to go there. There was only one country that fit the bill, as far as the Fox was concerned. "Topfloorien! The party of Elves is headed for Topfloorien! If you can lay-way them before they reach that country on the banks of the Pretty-Good River, you'll be sure to catch them!" [ January 23, 2003: Message edited by: Birdland ]