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Showing posts from June, 2014

Story for the Day: A Leathal Lecture

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In Damson's Distress, Danaco mentions to Damson that Bartleby once killed a man by lecturing him to death. Danaco was serious. D anaco gave the order for those who would remain and guard the crewman’s quarters to stand at the bunks, and all those who would come with him to join the fight on deck to follow. He mounted the stairs and was met with the prospect of Bartleby standing and lecturing the drummer and the galley captain on the quarterdeck, the old man glorying in his grand sermons, the drummer sitting in sad stupefaction, and the galley captain leaning forward with his elbows resting against his knees and his head being suspended by his hands. Bartleby was still talking. “Ah doan’t understaun,” said Houghleidh, in amazement. “Ah couldnae overpower the men who captured meh, an’ he’s conquerin’ the captain with a history lesson?” “Ah, you mistake what is truly happening, my friend,” said Danaco, smiling. “The old git might be lecturing them on various subjects they

Story for the Day: The Myrellenos

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Myrellenos is the Lucentian Goddess of Life. According to Lucentian legend, Myrellnos comes from the realm of Mlys, the realm whence the Elves of Lough came. Lucentian's history tells that when the Elves of Lough refused to worship Myrellenos any longer, disease struck their lands, forcing them westward across the sea, where they discovered the then nearly derelict land of Old Lucentia. The Elves made themselves lords over the current residents and readopted their worship of Myrellenos, vowing to never again forsake their creator. Reestablishing godly faith amongst the Lucentians has done well for them: Lucentia is now one of the most liberal and prosperous countries on the continents, to which many Lucentians attribute their adulation of their Great Lady. Many Lucentians, especially amongst the nobility, are religious, and while Myrellenos requires no sacrifice or services, many honour her by naming something precious after her. In Danaco's case, he names his ship after his fa

Story for the Day: The Slave Galley - Part 2

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D anaco plucked the portrait from his trembling hand and studied the young woman’s face. “And the young lady’s name, sir?” said he sincerely.                 “Onnedine.”                 “A Sesternese name for a Marridonian lady?”                 “Her mother was Sesternese.”                 Danaco glanced again at the portrait. “You said it was a Sesternese galley she was placed on?”                 “Yes, one large enough to hold at least a hundred slaves.”                 “Describe it to me, as well you can.”                 “It had red striped sails and one of the Sesternese Saints as the figurehead. The Docksmaster said the ship was called the Septuna.”                 “I know the name,” Danaco mused. “I have seen her in her birth a douzen times, but never with any cargo on her. She is a transport for hire.”                 “Then you know it, sir?” the merchant exclaimed. “Know of it surely, but there are one in a hundred galleys of that description cruisi

Story for the Day: The Slave Galley - Part 1

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While Captain Danaco Divelima is used to rescuing anything from being harmed, he has a soft spot for rescuing children: The Slave Galley                 After accepting the charge from the board near the commissioner, Danaco went with all due alacrity to meet with the posting’s purveyor, an older man of stout means and nervous character, a merchant by trade, a Marridonian by birth, a coward by coincidence, an affluant by accident, and solicitous by circumstance. He sat in a wreck of hysterics, fidgeting about in a darkened corner of the hall as he was approached by the publican, who was harassing him as to whether he was going to be drinking anything or if he meant merely to sit and fester in his own fever of frantic musings, staring at the glass of water untouched, which the serving attendant was so good as to give him—though he hardly merited half so much attention after forgetting to give any gratuity for the service—and at last, upon perceiving the Lucentian captain ent