Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:27 — 5.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS

Hello everyone, this is Asclepius.
I’m delighted to welcome again our guest narrator JLWChambers, he will be bringing us a great story by Womby, entitled

An Accidental Discovery

Background music is “Haunted – Desolation” by Eric Matyas at http://soundimage.org/

An Accidental Discovery

It was by far the tallest tree in the forest, however its luxuriant foliage and the dense surrounding woods made it impossible to see beyond the first few branches.
Rachel was determined to climb it, for surely it would provide breathtaking views of beautiful autumn scenes that she could capture in her paintings.
Unfortunately the lowest branch was far beyond reach, and she was about to abandon her idea when she noticed a glint of light.
There, just above the lowest branch, something metallic was reflecting the morning sun. It looked like a switch of some kind.

Spurred on by curiosity, Rachel took an arrow from her quiver and slowly pulled back the string on her bow.
The morning breeze had paused, and all was still as she let loose the arrow. A miss, but close.
Trying again, she this time managed to strike the lever, and a weighted rope plunged to the forest floor from somewhere above.
Rachel examined the rope. It was sturdy, seemed fairly new, and was knotted at regular intervals.

Rachel did not hesitate further, and began her ascent. Reaching the lowest branch, she noticed carefully concealed foot and hand holds, and used these to press on.
Her backpack was made large and cumbersome by her easel, so she placed it together with her bow and quiver in a convenient hollow before continuing on.
She was about two thirds of the way up when she noticed the platform above her.
Continuing on she came to a small trapdoor and paused, listening. All she could hear was the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind, the occasional creak of the platform as the tree moved, and some animal sounds from the forest below.

She decided to chance it, and gently pushed up on the trapdoor, lifting her head to see if she could spot any danger. All appeared to be clear, so Rachel pushed open the trapdoor, climbed through, and quickly closed it again.
She found herself in an elaborate multi-story tree house. A wooden ladder led upwards to one or more additional levels, and through the main door she caught a glimpse of a rope bridge extending towards another tree.
Glancing at a table she noticed crafted items of a clearly recognisable style. Elves!
On the wall was a large parchment containing a map of the island. The various towns and villages were clearly circled and annotated in a script that she could not decipher.

Just then she was startled to hear movement from the floor above, and quickly hid under the table.
A pair of legs appeared and walked over to the table, standing on the trapdoor that she had just climbed through.
Carefully Rachel reached forward and released the latch on the trapdoor, and the startled elf disappeared as he plunged over 200 feet to the ground below.

Grabbing the map Rachel hastily folded it and stuffed in her shirt, then retreated the way she had come.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:40 — 5.6MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS

Hello everyone. This is Asclepius, with another wonderful story from Greyhaven. It is entitled

The Correct Technique for Dealing with Trolls

I am also delighted to welcome littlegeeklost to join in the narration.

Background music is “Blackmoor Tides” by Matthew Pablo at www.matthewpablo.com

Greetings All

I hope that you have all taken the opportunity to have a read through Sir Frank’s mighty fine written piece “Death” in the Scribes of Novia forum. A story where young Sir Frank comes off second best to a troll (of the classical variety). The result is somewhat unfortunate, hence the title of the piece.
Should a troll get hold of a true warrior, it is of course the troll that is in trouble, and not the hero. I will elaborate:
There are those who are quick to panic when they are grabbed by a troll, but this should be no real cause for concern if you follow the correct procedure for dealing with the situation.
As the troll’s hand closes around you, be quick to flip your belt-mounted morning star 90 degrees to stop the fingers getting too tight a grip. As it lifts you off the ground it is time to get ready to exploit the troll’s primary weakness – they are particularly sensitive to loud noises. Even Beowulf figured that one out (eventually).
As you are lifted towards its face, and it prepares to bite your head off, just lean to the side and holler as loud as you can in its ear-hole. That should cause it such discomfort and aggravation that you will be quickly dropped (or thrown) to the ground.
Be sure to take advantage of this opening. Smash it as hard as you can on the toes with your trusty warhammer. As it doubles over in pain, this will bring its head down within range of an upwards swing of the hammer. If you put your back into it, and you are using quality equipment, then you can damn near knock it’s head off.
‘ang on matey ! What happens if it is a deaf troll or one without any ears on it ?
I’m sorry Bronwyn, but that is a stupid question which does not merit an answer…
I ain’t got a warhammer or one of those star thingies either – can’t we just shoot it up the ol’ schnoz with a poison arrer?
Ha ha, it might have a big nose but I don’t think it would keep its head still long enough for you to aim at it.
You raise a good point though. Because of their regenerative capabilities, once downed it is important to finish the troll off with poison or fire…
Finish? Bloody rubbish! Start ’em off with a bit of flame, that’s what I say! Much better than thrashing about with a hammer!
Did I tell ye about the time me an’ the Bomb Squad fixed a bunch o’ high-ex around a troll’s privates an’ set em off with a fireball?? I tell ye summut lad, there’s nowt what sorts a troll out faster than exploding gonads!