[Soll]

Username: Soll
Name:
Story:
Art piece (100% optional, remove if not needed!):

wip!!

[Ucanthandleme]

re-using elsewhere.

[rabbit...]

Username: rabbit...
Name: Madaurus
Story:

One doesn't just become a patron god overnight. You definitely need to put some elbow grease into it, or at the very least, Madaurus had to work at it. Mostly, it was just many years of listening to music and the befuddling notes that come out of various instruments. He preferred to solely sponsor those who work with string instruments but one has to regret that fact every so often. At times there would be ungodly death throes that screech out of violins and Mada would clutch at all his patience to maintain sanity. The classical instruments are also easily abandoned so he must guide the enthusiastic, but some quit regardless of the work put in. There was but a few singular moments that stood out in his eyes as to why he gravitated to this field.

It started with a young Kalon, named Ar or something similar, one tends to forget these facts given how much times passes. They were barely even taller than a sprout and pretty rough looking at that. They slipped into the theater that Mada was overseeing at the time. It was an absolute production: with the painting of the set pieces only half done and some of the instrumentalists forgoing practice to help run errands for the stage manager. The stage was so bright that it burned the eyes of onlookers.

When Mada found a pair of eyes hiding among the seats during the orchestral practices. They glimmered with vivid interest that they could rival stars. Begrudgingly, Mada welcomed Ar to mimic those in the orchestra. His first lesson was awful, but only he, Ar, and the large moon on that night would ever bear witness to it.The young talent bloomed exponentially with the late night practices. The early days of weeping over blisters, turned into hopeful smiles as the sound started to burst forth from the violin eagerly. While Mada was knowledgeable, he was nothing compared to true teachers so with a pull of a few strings, Ar set off with a scholarship in hand. Mada would think about them every so often, but truly there were others talents in need of nurturing.

When Mada saw Ar on their own stage many years after, Mada felt the swell of spirit emanating from the violin, from their passionate playing. The moments of light joy that alluded to shy smiles were characterized by the gentle sweeps of the bow while the sharp strikes of the concert created a siren call over the audience screaming "Look at me!". Music rushed through the seats and captured everyone's attention. The audience reached a fevered pitch where even Mada rose from his seat to clap once the concert ended. From the deep timbers of the cello to the fanciful pianos, the colours of humanity shine through so well with these instruments. To share that moment of success of sharing their passion with the world, Madaurus is sure that is the reason he puts up with being a Patron God.

500 words

[Knickknacks]

username; knickknacks
name; sanja {of croatian origin ; "dream" }
story;

- - -

“What’s her story?”

You don’t mean to pry, but can’t help but ask- the solemn silvery kalon was sitting by herself in the corner of the crowded room, no company at her table except a careworn violin.

“You aren’t the first to ask,” the bartender says, a touch of sympathy in their eyes as they follow your gaze. “Nor will you be the last. I warn you, though- Sanja’s tale is not a happy one.”


- - -


“They used to say Sanja was like a wild, westerly gale, blowing through port every few months with her crew. A raucous bunch of sailors, they were, but Sanja with her fiddle was the loudest of all. The reels she would play for her crew and strangers alike were almost... enchanting, drawing perfect strangers to laugh and dance together. They said Sanja’s smile was warmer than the sun, lighting up the dance circles she drew to her.

“And then, three years ago... she blew back into port. But no longer was she as wild, lively wind. Some likened her to a last fading breath of wind, or a melancholy curl of mist. Her fiddle no longer inspired merriment- whatever flame had been snuffed in Sanja reflected in the tone of her instrument as well. Her music still affected those who heard it- but now her ballads brought tears rather than laughter, her melancholic humming causing hearts to ache.

“And her crew was not with her. She had not arrived on a ship, but sodden and clinging to a pallet of driftwood, her fiddle waterlogged but miraculously intact.

“Sanja never exactly revealed what had become of her crew. Those who listened to her songs, though, heard repeated lyrics about mists swallowing things up, cloaking and obscuring. Tales began to circulate, remembering that her crew’s final voyage had been through particularly treacherous straits. It was easy to deduce from there what fate had befallen them- a shipwreck on the rocks, a crew lost to the mists.

“Save for one. Sanja had survived.

“Some looked on her with sorrow or pity. And some were suspicious of her, of the stirrings her songs caused, and her fortune to survive such a perilous journey and make it back to land alive. They wondered at the magic she possessed- perhaps she was a witch, or a siren who had lured that crew to their demise.

“After these three years, though- I don’t think Sanja has magic, after all,” the bartender admitted, picking up a discarded glass for washing. “I think she has a gift for music- for joy or sorrow, her songs have always inspired emotion. I don’t believe that is any magic beyond what music itself can do.

“Some say, though, that on nights of the full moon, Sanja can be seen dancing down the coastline, playing a lively and haunting reel for whoever may listen. They say that at the sound of her song, the mist takes the form of dancers- echoes, shades of those she had lost.”

- - -
[500/500 words]

art;

possibly? We’ll see if I have time?

[Eleya]

Username:
Eleya

Name:
Richard James Bowen
friends call him "Bowie"

Story:
“Captain Bowen, an incoming emergency signal from the Rigel-System.”
The captain nodded, “Get us there, Claymore!” His tail jerked. Something about the Rigel-System was strangely familiar.

“We will send a landing unit. Ill be leading it. Rover, Tarvis, you’ll join me. Lonan, keep an eye on my ship, will you?”
“Aye captain!”
“Well then, let’s move!”

The captain had this strange feeling again when they landed on the planet. This place seemed so familiar. It felt like he had been here before, but he was sure that wasn’t possible. Observant he walked towards the signal.
A few minutes later, he could hear distant music. A violin for sure. Bowen would always recognise these. He himself played it for quite some time now. Amongst others, a melody close to the one he heard. A look down on his ring made him stop for a second. It seemed to be somehow glowing. A feeling of peace overcame the captain, and he moved on. Sure, he and his crew would be safe near the violin.
The music got louder, the nearer they got to the signal. The forest they walked through gave way to a clearing. Smoke was rising from the small cottages standing there. One single Kalon stood there, playing the sad melody on his violin. “We are to late…”, was Bowens first thought. The second, how oddly familiar this old man looked.

“Captain Richard James Bowen from the Stardust. We got an emergency signal. What happened?”
The old man looked at him through dull eyes. Still Bowen felt stared at. Finally, the old man asked, “Son of James Arthur Bowen?” The captain nodded.
Suddenly the old man started laughing. “Coralynns son is back! We are saved!”, he shouted and started jumping around. Bowen stopped him, “Wait, why do you know my mother?”

“When Cora left with your father, she took the families ring with her. We had no attacks in decades, so we thought the old stories were just legends. A few days ago, they came back though. The Shadows! They attacked and burnt down the villages. Some of us managed to escape and hide in the forests, but they come searching for us.”
“What’s that got to do with the ring?”
“The five oldest families got a ring with a light stone. They should always protect it. In case of emergency we would need to bring them to the temple and put them in the suns circle. A shield of light would stop the Shadows. Your mother wasn’t the only one leaving, you know. These rings are probably spread over the whole galaxy by now. We will need to find them, or our planet is lost.”
“This ring was a gift from my mother. How will I find the others?”
“The violin will show you. Play the melody you heard at your arrival, and they will answer.”
Bowen took the violin. It felt like it had always belonged in his hands. Like a piece of himself, he thought lost.

(499/500 words)

[Amplify]

Username: Amplify
Name: Murdock
Story:

seven years old.

murdock is sitting on a couch, leaning straight towards a holo-screen projecting from their tv module. a video plays for perhaps the hundredth time, but his eyes never stray, and his attention never wavers.

“so, you want to join the interplanetary academy for space exploration, huh? fear not, there’s always enough room for another space explorer just. like. you!

curiosity. bravery. honor. the ideal cadet embodies the traits the interplanetary alliance was founded on, and I know you have it in you. all you need to do is believe in yourself, and aim for the stars!”

there was more to the recruitment advertisement, but the beginning was all he needed. he was going to make it, some day; no matter what.

fourteen years old.

every day brought him one step closer to being a cadet. the minimum age was seventeen to apply, but he knew all the truly dedicated hopefuls started training even sooner.

thankfully he discovered a passion for science early on, preparing him for a research position in the academy. still, there were rumors that failing the physical exams led to expulsion, regardless of academic talent. so here he was, outside the local gym, membership card already in hand.

he promised himself that nothing was going to stop him from reaching the stars, and he refused to give up. even if it meant exercising.

twenty-one years old.

he made it, he finally made it! four years at the academy, and he was finally here, standing at attention in front of the head of the research branch of his assigned vessel.

straight out of the i.p.a.s.e. he was offered a position aboard the ss stella viatorem, one of the premier exploration ships that traveled to uncharted territory in space and specialized in research. it was his dream for so long he knew it was meant to be, and accepted without hesitation.

of course, he would now be the low man on the totem poll, that much he was well aware; it had been that way when he began at the academy, and it would be that way here. but none of that mattered. he didn’t care how long it took for him to prove himself, because if one thing was certain it was that he would eventually.

because now that he made it? there was officially no stopping him. he couldn’t wait to explore the universe, to use his research and his skills to continue to push farther than anyone ever has before!

okay, he might’ve been getting ahead of himself, but today he made a new promise: to always aim for the stars.

[438/500]

[SpartanAmethyst]

What time will this close today?

[nermal1999]

Username: nermal1999
Name: Seth
Story:
Swept in the stars plays the old song fiddler who sits among the moon playing he's song.
A song of pain, and sorrow,
A song that takes you on a journey.
But no matter the song, no matter the pain,
it will always end with the impact of joy, to make one forget of the pain that was before.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The night was cold and silent.
Seth stood quietly in the open streets with his head low.

Letting out a deep breath he slowly lifted his hands with a violin in bow held in each.
slowly lifting his head Seth fixed his eyes on the stars above as he slowly began to move his hands.

Within a instant the bow began to swiftly maneuver over the violin strings, releasing a beautiful, harmonious song throughout the night.
With the empty streets the song seemingly began to endless echo into the unknown darkness that surrounded him. And through his song not once did Seth loose sight of the stars.
His face projected nothing more then peace.... And freedom.
At this time, at this moment when everything was dark, everyone was asleep.
It was at this time that Seth truly lived.

It was the moment he was able to release the tears he held, the joy he contained, the Wonder he had,
It was in this place that he was able to release it all and just be among the nothing.


Slowly closing his eyes Seth lowered his bow before taking in a nother breath.
Closing his eyes he slowly lifted his hand once more and slowly pulled the bow over the cords releasing a bone chilling cry.
For a moment there was nothing but silence then slowly a song that was that of sorrow grew from the dark. A song that seemed to find its way into your heart making you feel lonely, and lost.
A Song that was far different from the one that had been played before.
And as Seth moved his hands swiftly with the bow grazing the strings, his eyes remained closed with a few tears running down his face and on to the cold concrete.

Opening his soft blue eyes Seth lowered both his hands and gazed up at the sky that seemed to grow even more and more vast, and endless.
Slowly the grip on his violin and bow loosened and they both crashed to the ground leaving nothing more then an empty Echo to drift off into nothing.

A stream of tears began to run from his face as Seth clasped to his neese.
And suddenly the street that once surrounded him vanished revealing four walls that surrounded him.
And the concrete that he once stood on? Nothing more then old wood.
And the night sky he gazed apon.... A ceiling with water damage.
And in the background Beyond his door was the sound of raging voices.

And it wouldn't be until the next night that the fiddlers song would be heard once more.

[499/500]

Art piece:

[PleaserOfCrowds]

What time will this close today?

Rollover!

[Vordai]

Username:
Vordai
Name:
Carwen (Blessed Love)
Story:

It had started off just as a way to help a friend- someone close who couldn't quite find the words to say to their crush. But volunteering to write the love letter.. Carwen hadn't imagined how it would explode as it had. Her group never found out who exactly had spread the rumour but after that people just began asking. It was slow at first, maybe one person who had begged her to help them, something which the shy Kalon had always found hard to deny. Soon enough it became a full fledged "business"- if you wanted to call it that- not that she charged or any such thing. It did lead Carwen to have a multitude of people asking for help though.

She got used to it after a while, as strange as it was. She even felt like maybe she was helping those who struggled before to find the right things to say. Though, Carwen had figured herself a bit above falling in love. At least right now, while she was still studying. That was something to work on later. But then, Caleb showed up wanting help with a letter to his crush. She agreed, thinking it would be the same as the rest, but it.. wasn't? Maybe it's because he ended up asking for more than one? Maybe it's because he was just so sweet and easy to talk to.. but she broke one of the rules set for herself. Carwen fell for someone she was supposed to be helping.

Of course it was a shock and the tiny girl wasn't sure what to do when she realised. She was afraid to say she had even debated sabotaging the letters each time he came so he would end up in her arms. Yet she knew that it didn't work like that, and she really did want him to be happy. It had become difficult to write and yet she never stopped or told him she couldn't continue despite how much it hurt.

Carwen definitely felt she was stuck in this horrid loop but her friends ended up coming to her rescue, noticing how she had turned withdrawn and sullen. She had explained her predicament in tears to her Friend's reassurances that they were there for her and the advice that maybe she should write for herself instead of others for once. Though she'd continued to write, those words always stuck with her. Carwen felt her lack of motivation and eventually her only thought was she needed to get out of this. When the "business" stopped and apologies had been made, a great weight was lifted off her shoulders. She was left just one more thing to do- one more letter that she could finally write for herself.

Sitting at her desk the Kalon wrote out all her feelings, just like she had for all those people before her. The day after she gathered up the courage to put it in his locker. Then, Carwen waited.

Art piece:

Thanks Ember<3