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“But it's not fair! Spark is only a little older and I want to go as well!”
“But it's not fair! Spark is only a little older and I want to go as well!”


A young boy was arguing with an older woman probably no older than her late 20’s herself. A hard life and the attack by Talador had left her looking older and with a limp she had no business having at her age.
A young boy was argued with an older woman probably no older than her 20’s herself, a hard life and the attack by Talador had aged her prematurely and left her with a limp she had no business with this early in life.

“Spark has to be somewhere else tonight, and besides, the other children need you to look after them. Why don’t you all go down and get some of the toys we found last week and play with them?”
“Spark has to be somewhere else tonight, and besides, the other children need you to look after them. Why don’t you all go down and get some of the toys we found last week and play with them?”


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----
----


Rooster was running up and down the halls of the warren. Other children followed closely behind.
Rooster ran up and down the halls of the warren and the other children followed closely behind.


He had forgotten about Spark already; he had learned to move on. He moved on after his house was destroyed by boulders catapulted over the walls by Talador. He moved on when his mother was taken by some nightmare that he still saw glimpses of right before he fell asleep. He moved on from the memory of the hunger and fear that filled his life for weeks afterwards. Until they came.
He had forgotten about Spark already; or more truthfully he had moved on. He moved on after his house was flattened by boulders from Taladoran catapults. He moved on when his mother was taken by some nightmare, and he tried every night to move on from the glimpses he still saw. He moved on from the memory of the hunger and fear that filled his life for weeks and found tenacity in its place.


Until the others came.
⚫
He was found by other scavenging children; they were searching the rubble for trinkets and silver and scraps to eat. One of them proudly held a leather ball, the other a whole fish she had taken from a nearby market. He thought at first they would steal his meager possessions, but they did not, they took him to meet the men and women in masks who gave him food and clothing and shelter.


⚫
Other scavenging children just like him; together they searched the rubble for trinkets and silver and scraps to eat. One of them proudly held a leather ball, the other a whole fish she had taken from a nearby market. He thought at first they would steal his meager possessions, but they did not, they took him to meet the men and women in masks who gave him food and clothes and shelter. With them Rooster stayed, while he continued to move on.
⚫
He moved on after he was beaten by a shop owner for stealing a round of cheese. He moved on when another child in the warren did steal his things, but he also made sure that child never stole anything again. He moved on when one of his friends, an older hathlyn boy with slicked back hair, was killed by a cutthroat in the alleys...the men and women in masks had taken care of the cutthroat.

⚫
He moved on after a merchant beat him savagely for stealing a round of cheese, and he learned to be more discreet. He moved on when another child in the warren did steal his things after he also made sure that child never stole anything again. He moved on when one of his friends, an older hathlyn boy with slicked back hair, died to a cutthroat's knife in the alleys...the men and women in masks took care of the cutthroat, and Rooster then took care not to get too attached.


He moved on like everyone else who survived in the aftermath of wars they did not ask for. He left his past behind him like his old name. A memory of a world he cherished but could no longer have.
He moved on like everyone else who survived in the aftermath of wars they did not ask for. He left his past behind him like his old name. A memory of a world he cherished but could no longer have.


[[File:Rooktoytable.png|300px|thumb|right|A table of toys as generated by MidJourney]]
[[File:Rooktoytable.png|300px|thumb|right|A table of toys as generated by MidJourney]]
Rooster had become something of a leader amongst the children. They liked his jokes and they listened to him when he warned them something was dangerous or would get them in trouble. He also was known not to pick favorites, a side effect of the distance he always kept from people these days. A trait rare for one so young.
The other children came to view Rooster as a leader. They liked his jokes and they took seriously his advice about danger and staying out of trouble. He never picked favorites, a side effect of the distance he learned to keep from those around him. His ability to stay dispassionate a rare and hard-earned trait for one so young.

⚫
The children came to a table covered in toys and coins; you could leave some coins and play with whatever you wanted. On this night they had no expectations and they could just play. Rooster picked up a toy knight, his favorite. He loved pretending to be a great warrior standing in front of the town gates and blocking the flying boulders with his magic shield.


⚫
The procession of children, led by Rooster, arrived ata table covered in toys and coins; you could leave some coins and play with whatever you wanted. On this night, and with the young woman’s words in mind, he told his hesitant charges they needn’t contribute to the till this time. They couldn’t have even if they’d wanted, he knew; tension in the streets had made their recent attempts at legerdemain impossible. Rooster approached the table first and helped himself to a toy knight, his favorite. He loved pretending to be a great warrior standing in front of the town gates and blocking the flying boulders with his magic shield.
⚫
None of the children noticed the fact that the adults around them had grown tense and were speaking in hushed whispers. They paid little attention to the fact most of the adults were armed tonight; in the warrens even the children often kept a dagger on them. The rats were large down here.
⚫
Only Rooster noticed when the adults around them had grew tense and were speaking in hushed whispers. He continued his play, if apprehensively, while the others paid little attention to the unusually well-armed adults hustling about, in the warrens even the children often kept a dagger on them. The rats were large down here.


There was soup and bread for dinner tonight, and all the children were excited and happy. They played with abandon on this rare night to themselves, without obligation or responsibility. All except Rooster. The woman's words and the tension in the air nipped at him and the toy knight in his hand could not guard or distract him from his own apprehension.
They were just happy to have a night to themselves to play in the warrens. There was soup and bread for dinner tonight, and all the children were excited and happy.




Line 42: Line 45:
“Hendor is here!”
“Hendor is here!”


Screams echoed up and down the warren and the sound of shuffling feet and furniture hastily being pushed into makeshift barrier filled the air. There were rumors of explosions in the streets above and fighting below. The children huddled against a wall unsure of what to do. There were not many ways in and out of this particular warren.
Screams echoed up and down the warren and the sound of shuffling feet and furniture hastily pushed into makeshift barrier filled the air. Rumors spread among the adults of explosions in the streets above and fighting below. The children huddled against a wall unsure of what to do, and Rooster joined them. There were not many ways in and out of this particular warren.


“What do we do?” asked one of the younger children.
“What do we do?” breathed one of the younger children.


“Where is everyone at?” another asked clutching a dagger in his hand. The small weapon looked more like a short sword against his diminutive frame.
“Where is everyone else?” another asked, clutching a dagger in his hand. The small weapon looked more like a short sword against his diminutive frame.


Rooster had no answers and just sat there huddled up against a wall and waiting. He hoped a path would clear and they could make it out into the streets. He wished he had gone out with Spark. He wished he had been out in the streets looking for supplies and food. He wished his mother had not died during the Talador invasion.
Rooster had no answers and sat there huddled up against the wall waiting. He hoped a path would clear - he knew they often did if you watched carefully - and they could make it out into the streets. He wished he had gone out with Spark. He wished he had been out in the streets looking for supplies and food. He wished his mother had not died during the Talador invasion.


The sound of fighting erupted down the hall not far from where they sat frozen in fear, the clang of metal against metal, the thud of something hitting the floor. There were no screams and the silence, interrupted by the sound of breathing children, once again dominated the space.
The sound of fighting erupted down the hall not far from where they hid, and the children flinched as one, the clang of metal against metal, the thud of something heavy hitting the floor. There were no screams and silence, interrupted only by the sound of breathing children, once again dominated the space.


“Go Children!” hissed a voice behind them.
“Go Children!” hissed a voice behind them.


Rooster spun around quickly and saw the young woman who had spoken to him earlier. She was holding a sword in one hand and a red crystal in the other. Her eyes were empty. He knew that look; he had seen it on so many faces in the last year. Inwardly he shuddered.
Rooster spun around quickly and saw the young woman who had spoken to him earlier. She was holding a sword in one hand and a red crystal in the other. Her eyes were empty. He knew that look; he had seen it on so many faces in the last year. She now offered him the path he so needed. Inwardly he shuddered, and he turned to move on.


“Go and do not look back. Try and make it out,” she commanded, her tone and the hard look on her face leaving no room for arguments.
“Go and do not look back. Try and make it out,” she commanded, her tone and the hard look on her face leaving no room for arguments.


Rooster took a deep breath and stood. The children stood up too, all of them.
The children stood up, all of them. They looked to Rooster and he took a deep breath.


He turned towards the entrance.
He turned towards the only way out he knew.


He started to run.
He started to run.

Revision as of 23:57, 20 February 2023

This is a creative work set in the world of Elanthia, attributed to its original author(s). It does not necessarily represent the official lore of GemStone IV.

Title: Rooster's Rest- The Cost of Security

Author: The Black Thorn Resistance

"Propoganda" is not in the list (essay, letter, periodical, poetry, short story, song, storyline, vignette) of allowed values for the "Creative-work-type" property.



The Cost of Security

"Rooster" as generated by MidJourney

“But it's not fair! Spark is only a little older and I want to go as well!”

A young boy was argued with an older woman probably no older than her 20’s herself, a hard life and the attack by Talador had aged her prematurely and left her with a limp she had no business with this early in life.

“Spark has to be somewhere else tonight, and besides, the other children need you to look after them. Why don’t you all go down and get some of the toys we found last week and play with them?”

Rooster, for that is what they called the boy, grinned at the thought of playing with the new toys and ran down below hollering with glee. He did not see the concerned look in his caretakers eyes or hear the worry in her voice.

Rooster ran up and down the halls of the warren and the other children followed closely behind.

He had forgotten about Spark already; or more truthfully he had moved on. He moved on after his house was flattened by boulders from Taladoran catapults. He moved on when his mother was taken by some nightmare, and he tried every night to move on from the glimpses he still saw. He moved on from the memory of the hunger and fear that filled his life for weeks and found tenacity in its place.

Until the others came.

Other scavenging children just like him; together they searched the rubble for trinkets and silver and scraps to eat. One of them proudly held a leather ball, the other a whole fish she had taken from a nearby market. He thought at first they would steal his meager possessions, but they did not, they took him to meet the men and women in masks who gave him food and clothes and shelter. With them Rooster stayed, while he continued to move on.

He moved on after a merchant beat him savagely for stealing a round of cheese, and he learned to be more discreet. He moved on when another child in the warren did steal his things after he also made sure that child never stole anything again. He moved on when one of his friends, an older hathlyn boy with slicked back hair, died to a cutthroat's knife in the alleys...the men and women in masks took care of the cutthroat, and Rooster then took care not to get too attached.

He moved on like everyone else who survived in the aftermath of wars they did not ask for. He left his past behind him like his old name. A memory of a world he cherished but could no longer have.

A table of toys as generated by MidJourney

The other children came to view Rooster as a leader. They liked his jokes and they took seriously his advice about danger and staying out of trouble. He never picked favorites, a side effect of the distance he learned to keep from those around him. His ability to stay dispassionate a rare and hard-earned trait for one so young.

The procession of children, led by Rooster, arrived ata table covered in toys and coins; you could leave some coins and play with whatever you wanted. On this night, and with the young woman’s words in mind, he told his hesitant charges they needn’t contribute to the till this time. They couldn’t have even if they’d wanted, he knew; tension in the streets had made their recent attempts at legerdemain impossible. Rooster approached the table first and helped himself to a toy knight, his favorite. He loved pretending to be a great warrior standing in front of the town gates and blocking the flying boulders with his magic shield.

Only Rooster noticed when the adults around them had grew tense and were speaking in hushed whispers. He continued his play, if apprehensively, while the others paid little attention to the unusually well-armed adults hustling about, in the warrens even the children often kept a dagger on them. The rats were large down here.

There was soup and bread for dinner tonight, and all the children were excited and happy. They played with abandon on this rare night to themselves, without obligation or responsibility. All except Rooster. The woman's words and the tension in the air nipped at him and the toy knight in his hand could not guard or distract him from his own apprehension.



A group of children as generated by MidJourney

“Hendor is here!”

Screams echoed up and down the warren and the sound of shuffling feet and furniture hastily pushed into makeshift barrier filled the air. Rumors spread among the adults of explosions in the streets above and fighting below. The children huddled against a wall unsure of what to do, and Rooster joined them. There were not many ways in and out of this particular warren.

“What do we do?” breathed one of the younger children.

“Where is everyone else?” another asked, clutching a dagger in his hand. The small weapon looked more like a short sword against his diminutive frame.

Rooster had no answers and sat there huddled up against the wall waiting. He hoped a path would clear - he knew they often did if you watched carefully - and they could make it out into the streets. He wished he had gone out with Spark. He wished he had been out in the streets looking for supplies and food. He wished his mother had not died during the Talador invasion.

The sound of fighting erupted down the hall not far from where they hid, and the children flinched as one, the clang of metal against metal, the thud of something heavy hitting the floor. There were no screams and silence, interrupted only by the sound of breathing children, once again dominated the space.

“Go Children!” hissed a voice behind them.

Rooster spun around quickly and saw the young woman who had spoken to him earlier. She was holding a sword in one hand and a red crystal in the other. Her eyes were empty. He knew that look; he had seen it on so many faces in the last year. She now offered him the path he so needed. Inwardly he shuddered, and he turned to move on.

“Go and do not look back. Try and make it out,” she commanded, her tone and the hard look on her face leaving no room for arguments.

Rooster took a deep breath and stood. The children stood up too, all of them.

He turned towards the only way out he knew.

He started to run.


The Empire attacks the Rooks as generated by MidJourney




















OOC Note

The names of any involved in this pamphlet are fictional, though Spark was later introduced during a story. Spark inspired the fact that the children were often given nicknames inside the organization. The actual events inside the Rook Warrens are not well documented but the story of Hendor leading a raid that led to the death of many in the warrens is known in the town of Wehnimer's Landing


See Also

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