I was talking to a fellow Menewshian about my wish to not just role play, though that is fun, but also to challenge myself by writing with multiple characters. The challenge is that in each story, my character's personality either fluctuates a lot or several of my characters are all the same. I want to be able to have a character who stays in character. I want to be able to write with more than one character. She suggested this subforum and I am relieved it exists. So here is where I am going to attempt to boost my creativity, practice staying in character, and have a little fun ^_^

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, will be to give me a hand at letting me know how I did on each short story. I am going to pick a setting, create several characters, and then have a list of events. Each short story will take place around one of those events. I'll keep the event list simple and short so I don't, hopefully, get bored without finishing. This of this as a written tv show with episodes ^_^

When I end a short story... you'll know. Then comment on my stuff to your heart's content. After awhile, I'll probably call a halt so that I can start the next short story in this mini series.

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Setting:

A village setting in the mountains. Samurai style. Natural resources is wood, horses, and a special metal used in their blades. A touch of fantasy thrown in.

Charaters:

Shina - small girl of about 12, lives with her mother, learning her mother's trade of pottery. Giggly and Girly.

Titania - female warrior, about 24, best in the village with a blade, has a quiet demeanor. Likes to teach others.

Jack - male warrior, about 22, not that great of a fighter, has a quick temper. Very confident.

Terk - male priest and healer, ancient, lives in the temple. Is the voice of caution.

Archer - male, about 35, horse trainer. Is the voice of reason.

Sleana - female, about 42, village scout who is usually on patrol with her hawk. A bit anti-social.



Events:

1. Shina's Adventure to Mountain Shrine.

2. Titania's Pupil.

3. Riding Lesson.

4. Invaders.

5. Search for the Treasure.

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Short Story #1

Shina's Adventure to the Mountain Shrine

PART ONE
Shina sat quietly in the corner, carefully using a damp sponge to smooth out the edges of the clay box she had made earlier. Once she was done with this, she would start to add detail. However, it was late enough in the afternoon that her mom might let her go. She sighed happily as she thought about finding a friend to play with.

Her mother, Esmeralda, walked past carrying a beautiful vase. She paused to look at Shina's work, and complimented her on it. Going to put the vase on the center oak table, she carefully seated herself. Shina looked up to watch. This was her favorite part of the pottery process. The firing of the clay. It was beautiful to behold, and even a squirming child became utterly still for the show.

Esmeralda held both of her hands out, palms facing towards the vase. The white stone on her forehead started to glow and blue flames grew around her hands. Gaining in intensity, they started to leap away and lick the clay that was between them. Esmeralda frowned in concentration and the blue magic completely enveloped and filled the vase. Then as quickly as it started, it was done. The vase was no longer pliable clay but hard like rock. However, it was just as light as when it had been clay.

The beauty of these creations was that they didn't break easily. A child could knock them off the table and they wouldn't shatter. Yes, dropping it off a cliff would. However, in a house they were safe. Many of their houses were made of clay too, and hardened by Esmeralda's powers. Shina smiled and asked to be allowed to stop for the day. Gaining the desired answer, she carefully wrapped her artwork in wet towels before sprinting outside.

Giggling after a group of running children, she ended up on the north side of the village. Someone had gotten out some rope and they were jumping with them when an old, worn voice called her over. Turning, she saw the village priest standing there with a smile on his face and a jar in his hands. The first jar she had ever made with blue magic.

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Part Two
Shina walked up to the village priest. His name was Terk. He was so old that she was convinced that he had always lived. He stood there quietly until she reached him, then motioned her to follow him. He started to head for the edge of the village. "Shina, I have a job for you to do. It is a duty really. This jar, you know it?" Shina knodded, curiousity filling her. "Good. When an artist of whatever craft they pursue finally comes to their own talent, they take a token of it to the mountain shrine. The shrine is like a history of our people. You can see how designs in weapons and art have changed, or not changed, over time. It is a trip everyone of our village takes at some point in their lives. That is what you are going to do now." He gave an amused smile at her startled expression.

"Terk, what do I do when I get there? How do I get there? Is this going to take long?" asked Shina with a worried look.

"Not at all. Simply follow the sandy path... yes, the one you have been forbidden from following, up to the shrine. Now that you have come to your talent, the path is no longer closed to you. Simply take this jar of yours up there and set it down. Then come straight back to the village. The patrols know that you are going out today and will keep an eye on you, so you are not to worry.

Shina looked longingly at her friends, then turned back to the priest and knodded. Taking the jar carefully in her hands, she turned and walked out the village gate and towards the sandy path that led higher into the mountains.