drabbles
Rather than flailing around endlessly for something that goes somewhere, I figured I'd try writing some drabbles. That way, I'm done when I get to 100 words, no matter what. Eventually maybe something useful will emerge.
The tower rises from the surface of the lake, reaching to the sky. Workmermen swim around the base, floating concrete block into elaborate archways and then lifting them up with the help of magic. Pegasi carve ornate decorations into its towering spires. Unicorns float enormous blocks of marble, slate, and granite into place.
In a generation, it will be deserted.
The mermaids will have retreated to the bottom of the sea. The pegasi will have flown off the far away lands. The unicorns will have vanished to the places from whence they came.
All because of the world of men.
*****
“The conclave will come to order.”
Sartanvoldrath’s voice boomed over the assembled wizards. As Headwizard, the decision eventually rested with him. But it never hurt to ask for input.
“The gargoyles must be dealt with,” Rastelbrinn spoke. “Our farmers cannot survive with them forever flying off with the sheep.”
“Have you asked them to find other prey?” Vellurium asked. “Perhaps they can be convinced to substitute wild animals into their diet?”
“It is not just the gargoyles. The kraken terrorize our ships. The unicorns lead our caravans to nowhere. All the beasts must go. We have the power, Vellurium…”
*****
Another day, another meeting. Another shouting match.
“We must be allowed to develop these magics further! Think of all the suffering they could ease!” Rastelbrinn’s voice shot through the assembled mages like lightning.
“We have no idea where they lead. Humans were given dominion over the beasts to watch over them. Watch, not change! These magics could be our own doom.” Again, Vellurium objected.
“Right now, our healers work on a cure for wasting sickness. Our herbologists have developed magical strains of grain that could feed the peasants many times over. And you worry about balance? Why should we be the ones to suffer. We can make things better!”
“At what price? Already, the old magic weakens. Unicorns grow sickly and fade away. Mermaids beach themselves on our beaches.”
“And our children grow strong. Where a village family might have seen two children grow to adulthood, they now have six. People have food! They have security!”
“Will they forever? Or will your fantastic new magic run out? Will you find that it’s all gone one day, and you’re left with nothing?”
“We’ve seen nothing to indicate that…”
“You’ve seen nothing. Nothing. You have no idea where this leads.”
And so it went. Back and forth, meeting after meeting after meeting.
*****
Sartanvoldrath stayed out of it. His position was to let it all play out, until the parties had no further arguments.
The council had aligned itself into factions. Five mages each supported Rastelbrinn and Vellurium, with Sartanvoldrath and two other mages remaining neutral. The two sides had staked out positions on opposite sides of the long council table.
It worried Sartanvoldrath.
The council had never been divided like this. There had been disagreements before, but never outright hostility, with sides taken. If the council fell apart, so would all wizards, and then who knew where the world would end up.
****
He thought about calling a halt to the debate. Ending it, with a decision on one side or the other.
But he couldn’t. The issue was too important. And he hadn’t heard all the information yet.
Rastelbrinn begged him to make a decision, pleaded, implored. “Make up your mind, old man,” he would cajole. “Yes or no. Shall we pursue these new lines of magic or not?”
Sartanvoldrath pursed his lips. “You’ll pursue them whether I give the okay or not, is that right?” he spoke. Rastelbrinn looked abashed but didn’t respond.
“You are not to use them. Not yet.”
The tower rises from the surface of the lake, reaching to the sky. Workmermen swim around the base, floating concrete block into elaborate archways and then lifting them up with the help of magic. Pegasi carve ornate decorations into its towering spires. Unicorns float enormous blocks of marble, slate, and granite into place.
In a generation, it will be deserted.
The mermaids will have retreated to the bottom of the sea. The pegasi will have flown off the far away lands. The unicorns will have vanished to the places from whence they came.
All because of the world of men.
*****
“The conclave will come to order.”
Sartanvoldrath’s voice boomed over the assembled wizards. As Headwizard, the decision eventually rested with him. But it never hurt to ask for input.
“The gargoyles must be dealt with,” Rastelbrinn spoke. “Our farmers cannot survive with them forever flying off with the sheep.”
“Have you asked them to find other prey?” Vellurium asked. “Perhaps they can be convinced to substitute wild animals into their diet?”
“It is not just the gargoyles. The kraken terrorize our ships. The unicorns lead our caravans to nowhere. All the beasts must go. We have the power, Vellurium…”
*****
Another day, another meeting. Another shouting match.
“We must be allowed to develop these magics further! Think of all the suffering they could ease!” Rastelbrinn’s voice shot through the assembled mages like lightning.
“We have no idea where they lead. Humans were given dominion over the beasts to watch over them. Watch, not change! These magics could be our own doom.” Again, Vellurium objected.
“Right now, our healers work on a cure for wasting sickness. Our herbologists have developed magical strains of grain that could feed the peasants many times over. And you worry about balance? Why should we be the ones to suffer. We can make things better!”
“At what price? Already, the old magic weakens. Unicorns grow sickly and fade away. Mermaids beach themselves on our beaches.”
“And our children grow strong. Where a village family might have seen two children grow to adulthood, they now have six. People have food! They have security!”
“Will they forever? Or will your fantastic new magic run out? Will you find that it’s all gone one day, and you’re left with nothing?”
“We’ve seen nothing to indicate that…”
“You’ve seen nothing. Nothing. You have no idea where this leads.”
And so it went. Back and forth, meeting after meeting after meeting.
*****
Sartanvoldrath stayed out of it. His position was to let it all play out, until the parties had no further arguments.
The council had aligned itself into factions. Five mages each supported Rastelbrinn and Vellurium, with Sartanvoldrath and two other mages remaining neutral. The two sides had staked out positions on opposite sides of the long council table.
It worried Sartanvoldrath.
The council had never been divided like this. There had been disagreements before, but never outright hostility, with sides taken. If the council fell apart, so would all wizards, and then who knew where the world would end up.
****
He thought about calling a halt to the debate. Ending it, with a decision on one side or the other.
But he couldn’t. The issue was too important. And he hadn’t heard all the information yet.
Rastelbrinn begged him to make a decision, pleaded, implored. “Make up your mind, old man,” he would cajole. “Yes or no. Shall we pursue these new lines of magic or not?”
Sartanvoldrath pursed his lips. “You’ll pursue them whether I give the okay or not, is that right?” he spoke. Rastelbrinn looked abashed but didn’t respond.
“You are not to use them. Not yet.”