Tag: microblogging

“The first phase of a duel is the psychic dominance contest. A duel is often lost before the first physical pass at arms. I have seen a duelist back down and concede defeat, having recognized his opponent’s superiority; it saved his life, in fact.”

“My sorcery is a martial art. Psychically dominating all opponents is a core skill. The training to improve this skill is adversarial. Two sorcerers will intentionally prolong the dominance phase of a duel, pushing the limits of both mental strength and endurance.”

“A disciplined will is the hallmark of someone with significant martial, magical, psychic, or even spiritual training.”

“The exertion of will in this way has a drawing-in effect. Done with sufficient intensity, the local environs can experience a temperature drop and even frost.”

“A sorcerer will also channel power into his body. The most common effect is augmented strength. This energy flows mainly down the arms and out through the hands. This release manifests as heat; You have seen the burned-in handprints on my bokken’s hilt.”

— Xenograg

“What do you know of hobgoblins?” asks Wyheree.

“Only the well-known axiom, ‘there never is just one hobgoblin.'” is Xenograg’s reply.

“How many moons does Rhydin VIII have?”

“Six.”

“No, it has seven. There is one your instruments cannot detect.”

The core of the following was written extemporaneously during a chat conversation with a friend. It is a “Xenograg in Space” snippet that highlights how unexpected magic can be in a solar system where technology is the default.

A klaxon unexpectedly sounds on the bridge of the pirate ship. They had just waylaid a small, unarmed system cutter and ordered them to prepared to be boarded. The First Mate looks up in shock from his datapad.

“Intruder Alert!” he declares. The pirate captain’s head snaps around to face the First Mate.

“How can we have intruders?! Our shields block Transporters!”

“They did not use Transporters, Capt’n! They teleported aboard using magic!”

“They wha—”

The Captain never finishes his sentence as six bellowing orcs in plate armor storm onto the ship’s bridge. Two are not even bearing guns, just melee weapons. The Captain and First Mate are shot dead without even touching their own holstered sidearms. The rest of the completely unarmored bridge crew die from a single stroke of sword or axe, each.

The orc leader speaks aloud because it makes it easier for him to project his thoughts.

“The ship is ours, General.”

>Well done, Darg,< Xenograg sends in reply. >I am very impressed, in fact. Convey my honored respects to your band.<

“The living fight the living. The dead fight the dead. They are not to fight each other. This is the Law.” — Xenograg