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Contest April-May 2021 Short Story Contest Voting Thread

Which story or stories do you like best? (choose up to three)

  • Story One: "A Fish out of Water"

    Votes: 11 61.1%

  • Story Two: "An Old Friend"

    Votes: 7 38.9%

  • Story Three: "The Fate of Haerhost"

    Votes: 3 16.7%

  • Story Four: "The Raiders"

    Votes: 2 11.1%

  • Story Five: "Out of the Air"

    Votes: 4 22.2%

  • Story Six: "Incomplete"

    Votes: 12 66.7%

  • Story Seven: "Claw in Mouth"

    Votes: 5 27.8%

  • Story Eight: "Muddied Legend"

    Votes: 2 11.1%

  • Story Nine: "Halls and Mountains"

    Votes: 4 22.2%
  • Total voters
    18
  • Poll closed .
The last set of reviews:


Again we see a story with a fairly short amount of time told, all we read happens on one evening in one place. I like that. Because of this there is a lot of words to describe the setting and persons we get to meet. The presence of the two Seraphon (we learn that this story is set in the Age of Sigmar) at a banquet is a great take on the theme. The first part of the story makes this very clear.
But then it continues and I feel for the Saurus in this really awkward situation to be there amidst the other folks.

In the end I don't know how the title fits the story, to be honest.


Ah well, if it isn’t the Western story of this competition. It seems like there always has to be one in the competition lately. I like the characterization and wording, it completes the western feel. The storyline isn’t to clear for me. Why did the dwarf join Qozo to find the Wood elf? Why was the captive kidnapped and what is his value for the Wood elf?

I also am not sure how the theme is taken into account within the story.


This story surprised me: It sets in neither the World-that-was nor the Mortal Realms, but in Middle Earth. I like the characterization and setting of the scene, the downfall is: it takes up to much of the story therefor the remaining part seems very rushed. The take on the theme looks to be two ways. First Luthamo being out of his comfort zone in the tunnels of the King’s halls. And second, the main take I guess, the Lizardfolks interfering in Middle Earth. Still there remains the question: What were they doing in the forest and why did they leave?

To conclude my reviews I would again like to say that the quality of the stories in this month's competition is very high and I liked to read all of them.

In the End my votes went to
- A Fish out of Water
- An Old Friend
- Out of Air

Grrr, Imrahil
 
Lizards of Renown said:
16 voters! :D

Hooray!

@Scalenex, what's the highest voters we've ever had?
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I never counted. Among other things, we usually get at least a few voters who don't use their full allotment so it's hard to tell for sure.

I did start compiling metadata on the contests a while ago, but A) I did not get very far because I got bored of the project less than half way through and 2) I never counted the votes.

Assuming every used their full five votes, January-February 2017 had 20 voters. That was our biggest contest with 16 entrants.

In any event, I'm glad we are getting more readers. I get not everyone wants to be a writer of Lizardmen/Seraphon fluff pieces, but I would hope that a large portion of the forum members would be willing to take an hour or two to read the fluff pieces.
 
I saw this on Instagram

Screenshot_20210525-001611_Instagram.jpg Screenshot_20210525-001438_Instagram.jpg Screenshot_20210525-001508_Instagram.jpg Screenshot_20210525-001530_Instagram.jpg Screenshot_20210525-001550_Instagram.jpg

and though immediately of this story

Scalenex said:
The Fate of Haernost


Cometsday 3rd of Shiverblight

News has reached me in Brightspear of the mysterious plight of a fishing township further to the south. Fanciful tales of fish men dragging its people to a watery grave. At first I had scoffed at the notion, local superstition being what it was and besides, chances are it was a raiding band of Idoneth Deepkin. However, life in Brightspear has grown duller for myself of late. I see myself as a scholar and a solver of puzzles, so why not travel and take a look for myself?

We are in the colder months (not that it means much in the realm of Aqshy!) so travelling that distance should not be too arduous. I will speak with Laer and see what he thinks.


Zenithus 5th of Shiverblight

I joined a caravan heading southwards from Brightspear today. Laer did not join me, being far too busy preparing for the arrival of some Duardin brewer. We were blessed to have one of the Stormcast from the Celestial Warbringers join us. Though the lands have been largely purged of the forces of Chaos, they are still dangerous at times, so it is good to have a little extra muscle.

The village is called Haernost and is located near the mouth of Passion’s Gate. I may have to pick up some more fine vellum from the region.


Moonsday 11th of Shiverblight

We have made good time across the Parch, fortunately the trade roads have been clear of any obstacle or foe. I am almost disappointed.

I spoke with the Stormcast whose name I learnt is Arlek. He is a cheerful fellow who really does seem to live in the moment. He assured me our trip should be danger-free, something to do with it not being his day to die yet? I wanted to press further but something in the way his eyes seemed to harden persuaded me otherwise.


Zenithus 12th of Shiverblight

We finally arrived at Haernost. It is a strange village of cured and proofed wood and clay. The caravan stopped briefly to trade some dried crops and materials with the locals before moving onwards. I bid farewell to Arlek and made my way further into Haernost.

I was able to obtain bed and board at a shabby tavern called the Efreet’s Fire. I will begin investigating about the disappearances tomorrow.


Sunwane 13th Shiverblight

Where do I begin?

I spent most of the morning combing the coastline and speaking with the fishermen and smokers. The stench of gutted fish and the tangy scent of smoked daggereel was nauseating. I thought the village had a pungent aroma as it was, but compared to the shoreline it is practically pleasant!

The men and women there gave me a number of names of persons who had gone missing. Many cases it seemed the missing person had been alone, but more of the recent cases had been groups and one case of a household that had been broken into and its occupants stolen away.

A couple of fishermen described seeing a scaled fish-like creature that walked like a man. It’s strange though, for the most part the people here still carry on as if they were not besieged by some kind of monsters of the deep.


Horizonday 15th Shiverblight

Another villager was taken last night. His house, though I would call it more of a hut, was found broken into. Of the man there was no sign except for a trail of webbed claw prints in the dirt. The people had no interest in following them and continued on with their daily lives.

All my imploring fell on deaf ears, so I followed the trail myself. The trail ended before the churning sea.


Voidsday 16th Shiverblight

I have seen them.

I was angry at the indifference of the village people and decided to comb further around the coast when the tide had retreated. After about an hour I discovered a hidden cave in the cliff face. I foolishly ventured inside, pistol drawn. Through the beam of my lantern I followed carved glyphs and pictures etched into the walls. I saw the image of a great toad-like creature banishing smaller lizard-like creatures to the deepest seas. There were other carvings showing the banished creatures falling into the maw of some great shark-like being whose fins writhed with tentacles. The lizard creatures then re-emerged altered into something between fish and lizard. A final image showed the great shark-like being perhaps dead or slumbering, it’s new children multiplying and preparing.

I finally entered a larger cavernous space and beheld a group of scaled fish-like men seemingly at rest. Bones of fish and other creatures were scattered about. Strangely none seemed to be human. It was at that moment I noticed that some of the creatures wore the clothes of the people of Haernost. To my horror I realised that several of these clothed creatures seemed blurred between human, lizard, and fish.

I ran. The village must be told.


Zenithus 19th Shiverblight

I am hunted.

A taint has infected the people of Haernost. When I spoke of the cave to the village elders a strange light seemed to gleam in their eyes. That night I was attacked. Not by fish creature but by man. They were chanting the name of some creature. Stromfels. I managed to escape and fled the village, but I was followed.

At first when the fish monsters arose the people had reacted with fear and yet as time wore on and the infection spread they became passive, embracive, twisted. Even now I can hear the chants on the wind in both the voices of man and the wet rasp of fish. I can only pray to Sigmar that I can keep ahead of them. I must make it to Lumnos and tell them.



I see now
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Grrr, Imrahil
 
Next batch of reviews! (Sorry this took so long, my level of procrastination surprises even myself sometimes!)

Now I'm not entirely sure who these skinks are, but horned one riders certainly are a thing. I loved the setting of the story, and the protagonist was well done, but I think this story suffered from the fact that it was incomplete, and was just an introduction to a larger tale. Overall a solid story, and definitely ended with me wanting more.

Now with the plot line of this short story, it could easily be turned into a 50 page novel. I loved the key concepts and felt the plot was very well executed. I felt the ending was perfect, and did a nice job of wrapping up all of the threads. I liked the double interpretation of the theme, definitely an amazing story.

Now this story actually is complete, despite the title. This idea was very original and well executed, the author does a good job of making the reader identify with the protagonist. Another great ending, and this feels like almost an origin story of sorts, something you could write many stories about. This was a really good one, and judging by it's standing with votes other people think so as well.
 
Lizards of Renown said:
I'll try do some...

Don't hold your breath though. If I can't see myself finishing before the contest ends, I won't do it.
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I'm kind of busy but I do plan to release some critiques...eventually. I may or may may not get them done before the contest is over, but I won't let that stop me.

There's no real deadline for talking about a story.
 
Scalenex said:
I'm kind of busy but I do plan to release some critiques...eventually. I may or may may not get them done before the contest is over, but I won't let that stop me.

There's no real deadline for talking about a story.
Click to expand...

Really? *tGWL digs up a bunch of old short stories that he thought were good* Time to critique the entire Short Story Contest index on Lustrapedia!!!!
 
If my math is correct, we're up to 18 voters! :D

Someone other than me or @The Great White Lizard should do a 24 hours remaining profile flicker so it's displayed on the main screen!

Let's get at least 20 and get the highest voters (IIRC the last highest was 19 based on what Scalenex said)
 
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