pátek 15. června 2012

Song of spirits and omens: Game of swords

Game of swords – part 2

It was the second day of Fangus employment as Ratar-O’s new servant and he was busy writing a report about damages created by the earthquake which caused the extraction of the sword of Plundarr. Fortunately said damages were just an unpleasant number of fallen cups and plates but not a single rodent citizen of Geopolis, a new town nearest to the mine in mount Plundarr, was harmed.

After finishing arguing with the last Gerbil mother distressed that her daughter lost half her dowry, he prepared for the return back to palace. On his way he mused about what he saw this day and also sooner before he got his new job. The people were noticeably shaken by recent events.

The earthquake was bad enough and then Ratilla’s sword was taken by rogue Cats and to top it all the released magic lured to the mountain the core of Mumm-ra’s army. The average Rodent citizens were distrustful of the old warlock and more of his armored Reptilian troops. In the past there were some skirmishes between the Mammals and Reptiles, which were still remembered in folktales and the recent incursion of the foreign soldiers didn’t help to improve the relationships between these two societies.

All in all, Ratar-O’s popularity among his subjects dropped significantly. There wasn’t any riots against king being formed yet but the masses needed something to boost their morale again. Fangus used the time on the road to think what and, more importantly, how he will tell his superior what should be done to secure the throne.

The journey back to the palace was short and soon the king’s servant found himself on the way to the meeting hall, where important happenings such as negotiations with other species were held. Today the highest lords of Rodents assembled to discuss matters of politics, economy and interracial relations. The assembly of rodent lords consisted largely from Ratar-O’s various uncles, cousins and other more or less distant relatives. Today’s meeting was almost finished so it didn’t take long till the last lord bowed before Ratar-O and left and Fangus was soon allowed to approach his ruler.

After finishing the formalities and discussing the report, Fangus gathered the courage to start talking about the topic of rising spirit of Rodent population: “My lord, excuse me for speaking my mind but I have the feeling that the inhabitants of your kingdom are unhappy.”

Ratar-O paid his servant only little attention and snorted: “People are always unhappy and complaining. Once it’s farmers because the fields don’t have enough water, other times it’s merchants because the taxes are too high. They all come to me whining about their pathetic lives. Are you done?” asked the large rat man annoyed by the long assembly filled with petty arguments and the report didn’t exactly make him happier either.

Fangus was afraid his master may not be in the mood for talking about something like this, however he wasn’t someone who gives up easily: “I see, but what about providing some entertainment for the people. It can help with our cause.” That was something that finally caught Ratar-O’s attention.

He looked at his new servant and began thinking aloud: “Right, the shestnut festival starts in a week. I could prolong the festivities for a day this year,” suddenly Ratar-O stopped and observed Fangus, the smaller rat looked rather nervous. “May I suggest something?” asked the servant slowly. “Go on,” said the king interested what clever or stupid thing had his servant on mind.

“I was talking about a wedding,” said his right hand man reluctantly. The larger rat man tilted his head to one side:“A wedding? Interesting idea. Go ask if any of my relatives is going to marry, the closer to me the better. We will make it a special occasion for everyone. Family stays and celebrates together,” said the king halfheartedly relieved that this problem was solved and he was about to close the subject.

Unfortunately for him Fangus hurried with his reply: “Actually I meant you, my lord.” “I’m not going to marry, you halfwit,” said Ratar-O more surprised than angry. Fangus breathed deeply. Now or never. “That’s what I want to talk about. I couldn’t help but notice that your highness isn’t married and doesn’t have any heirs. I’m sorry to say that but you’re not getting any younger. Finding a suitable bride would solve two problems at once.”

After speaking those words an awkward silence reigned for a while. The shorter rat was afraid he signed his own death sentence. But Ratar-O just barred his teeth. His new servant was right. In a way. He would never admit it openly but Fangus had a point.

 Weddings and other celebrations organized by nobility meant at least a day off work and a lot of free food and drinks for even the poorest mice. And more importantly, every empire needed an heir to ensure there will be a ruler in the future, otherwise the kingdom may fall apart in a civil war.

Unfortunately it wasn’t such merry occasion for the ruler and Ratar-O himself was always occupied with some sort of project like renovating old halls or finding and extracting the sword of Plundarr. Not that he didn’t like a woman’s body. But a concubine was more of a service he could use whenever he wanted. Later they always conveniently vanished when he didn’t need them anymore. A wife on the other hand…

That lion bastard had the advantage that he could have fun with any female who crosses his path and even if it had some consequences, he may easily avoid any responsibility. He on the other hand has to pick carefully as to win as much political support as possible without offending other powerful families. Then there’s the thing about the bride’s personality.

Ratar-O was secretly worried that either he will end up with a wealthy, yet stupid gossipy hen or even with some power hungry beast that will assassinate him as soon as their first son is born and set herself as a regent. His concern stemmed from the fact that he met quite a few of such females in person.

In the rat society the women were forbidden to start a conversation with a male stranger. Therefore many females sought out the opportunities to meet attractive men and tried to catch their interest nonverbally. For example an assembly of Rodent lords or an audience was considered to be such an opportunity. Many a father was pestered by his daughter (and wife) that she has to accompany him to meeting with king Ratar-O. This began already when Ratar-O was a boy. The rat women would come in hope that they will be the wife of a mighty rat lord. Some she-suitors were twice as old as the young rat prince, some would wiggle on their chair and constantly wave their hair around. It was unnerving for a little rat boy but as he grew up, Ratar-O got eventually used to such behavior, though he still regarded it as silly.

“I will think about it but don’t get too cocky because you suggested that idea,” warned Ratar-O his servant Fangus and shoot a death glare towards him to strengthen his words. The servant understood its meaning and deeply bowing left his master to his own thoughts.

There was other thing than stupid girls on king’s mind. Eventhough the empire of Thundera has fallen, the rats still weren’t at the tip of the hierarchy. The cat warriors were bad enough, now that the mighty undead wizard was released things might become even tougher. If Mumm-ra knew that Ratar-O was planning to keep the sword of Plundarr for himself, he would unleash his worst spells on the Ratmen. Ratar-O sighed. He wished the decayed warlock had stayed away rotting in his pyramid forever. But these damned Cats made everything worse. They are so sick they destroyed themselves and now we must pay for it.

Notes:
Thundercats 2011 belong to Warner Bros. Animation
So this time I added a bit about how the Rodent society works. I have to say it’s really funny. I hope the show won’t get cancelled because I really enjoy writing this fic. Are you’re interested why I let Fangus call Ratar-O ‘my lord’, ’sir’ and such? Well, I found it weird for a servant to call his master with his name. Particularly someone as arrogant as Ratar-O. They probably knew each other very very long, like Mordax being servant of the previous king or something. Apropos king, Ratar-O’s title is never explicitly stated but I thought that the title of king fits best. Even though real life Huns called their leader khan I assume that Ratilla after obtaining Sword of Plundarr would like to call himself the same as leader of the Thundercats, hence the king. Ratar-O’s last words belong to the fact that Mumm-ra was released by Grune, a Cat, which only strenghtens his hatred for them.

neděle 10. června 2012

Song of spirits and omens: Game of swords - part 1


It was dark in the room except for one lone torch lighting the whole chamber across the room. He sighed. Of course, it was dark, he was in the old underground palace. Again. The absence of sun in the underground was very depressing and the pain in his back didn’t help at all. Slowly as to not strain his back too much, he sat in his bed. He almost opened his mouth to call for his personal servant, when he remembered that he left him. Anger filled him at once. Only few days ago, he was scarcely humiliated. He was betrayed by his own right hand man, his butt was kicked by a Cat, no, a kitty, and, to top it all, the stupid Thundercats stole his race’s greatest treasure. Furiously, he hit the stone wall next to him with his fist and then cursed, because no matter how enraged any rat is a stone is always harder.

Later that day he was heading to the old throne room where his father used to give orders and him as well before the throne hall in mine Plundarr was built. And again he felt the desperate need to blow up that brat, who calls himself a king, with the Rat’s eye and to strangle to death that treacherous cockroach named Mordax. Alas he will have to wait for that to happen.

On the way to the throne room he heard voices coming from the direction he was heading. “I wish to speak with the king,” said an unknown voice. The other speaker, probably guards, stayed unfazed: “You have to wait. The king hasn’t come yet.” Soon he saw the first speaker. It was an unknown rat talking to the guards. It was an unusual sight to see a commoner at this hour in Ratar-O’s palace because ordinary people with complains would come later. This newcomer was tall, but shorter than him, lean rat with a crooked snout as if it was broken several times in a brawl. “The king has already arrived,” claimed Ratar-O and the other three rodents bowed down their heads. “Well, what do you want?” Asked Ratar-O the stranger when he deemed that the formalities took long enough. “My name is Fangus and I would like to serve you, sir,” after finishing his request Fangus bowed again.

The bigger rat measured him before spoke again: “To serve me? And what kind of service did you head in mind? Do you want to cook for me? Or clean the floors of the palace many rooms? Make your mind because this is not a place for indecisive simpletons,” teased Ratar-O his subject.

The smaller rodent kept cool head and answered with carefully chosen words: “If I may be so bold I want to become your personal servant. I recently heard you may be in need of one and I swear you I would follow your every order.” Fangus noticed that the larger rat man frowned and narrowed his eyes and for a while he wondered if he didn’t overdo it.

“The rumors spread quickly I see,” said Ratar-O and a grow crawled into his voice, “Do you have any experiences with such a type of service?” Fangus mentally sighed relieved that he didn’t made his king furious and hurried with the answer: “I worked years for one very rich merchant in Lettucetown so I get the idea how big institutions work. But I wanted to pay my tributes to all the people working hard for the kingdom so I decided to join them.” Of course he didn’t say that his previous master was the lord of thieves, smugglers and pimps.

Ratar-O chuckled: “Enough rambling. So you have some experiences. Good for you because we are facing hard times.”

“I understand clearly, sir. I will follow you to the hell and back if you tell me to do it,” said Fangus maybe a tad bit more eagerly than necessarily needed.

The bigger rat frowned again: “Be careful. It may happen sooner than you think.”

Notes: Sadly I don’t own ThunderCats but it sure is one damn awesome intellectual property. I’m Storycollector and apart of writing my original stories sometimes I feel a strong urge to write a fanfiction. But unlike my own stories I find writing fan fictions even harder because I of the difficulty to fuse one’s own creativity with other person’s ideas.
This story is from the fandom Thundercats 2011 aka New series and it focuses on the villain Ratar-O.

My stories

As some of my readers know I write short stories and I'm currently writing at least one book. 90% of these stories is my original work, however sometimes I have a nice idea for a fanfiction. I write mostly in Czech language but these stories are to be found on my other web www.storycollector.webnode.cz. Warning! That website contains articles in Czech language and they may not make sense with google translator.
Therefore I have this blog where I post english stuff. I know that I have only few articles but that may hopefully change in the future.
What I want to say is that I'm currently writing a story in English. It's fan fiction about Thundercats 2011. I grew up with the old series and I find this new series even greater than its predecessor. And I'm going to put it right here on my blog. :)