Writing Contest! (2 New Statues)

[Doc Paterson]

These are awesome guys, and I regret that I can pick only one for each statue.

Matherton, that's a very interesting take on the petrifications, having them be from non-basilisk-related causes. Your first one really made me think of Spider World by Colin Wilson (which I highly, highly recommend).

Keep them coming, all! This is going to be a really tough contest to judge.

[Ceres]

I'll try another one, rhyming this time.

The spider lived long at this place,
longer than others of its race.
Never disturbed, nothing to complain
but after so many years, boredom is a pain.
Only some rats and a wolf now and than,
seeing the spider, every animal ran.

One day it thought: "I will move away
nothing to see here, no reason to stay."
Exploring the caves, it saw a silhouette.
The spider jumped forwards. "This was easy to get!"
Suddenly it felt: in this man was no life
he was stoned, and with him his bow an his knife.

Spider recognized: it was alone,
every creature here was made by stone.
It heard a sound, while still riddling why,
on that that was a fish it couldn't rely.
Turning around spider turned to granite,
because basilisks are not used to fight,
one look is enough to petrify
and the spider never saw again the sky.

[Conrad]

A lone man ran into a cave and looked about... He hurried to get into a nice area where nothing could sneak up on him, but he failed to notice the areas of the cave that were flat and smooth worn by something. He was in a panic, and ran and found a large stick that he used to carve a message in some soft clay on the cave wall. He knew he was losing time and worked to finish the message. He read it over quickly. "Take this token of advice. Bind your eyes and tie your sword to your hand..." As he bent to right more he turned and was frozen, a scream painted on his face forever...

lol thats my fail of a story for you...

-Conrad

[Reepurr]

The giant spider hung from its silvery web, waiting for suitably large prey to pass by. It waited and waited, but there was no sound sparing the repetitive 'drip' of lake water leaking through into the cave. The spider waited further, irritated. It heard a buzzing, but it was just a tiny fly.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

The spider would have scowled if it had suitable facial muscles, but instead its eight eyes orbited crazily in its sockets, desperately looking for food. After a while of this strenuous optical exercise, it stopped.

Drip. Drip. Dr-

The sound of water falling changed into the crack of stone falling and breaking. Too late, the spider remembered what had happened to one of his relatives, and averted his eyes...but he was suddenly turned to stone by the Basilisk's evil glare.

Kinda long, but I would imagine it could be trimmed a little. I was going to add a sentence saying the spider fell from the web, which was turned to stone and could no longer hold his weight, but then you'd wonder why he didn't smash into a hundred pieces.

[Doc Paterson]

I'll give this one more week before making a decision, so if anyone else wants to post, go for it!

[Radament]

"That is absolutely ridiculous. Nonsense! Beasts can not be petrified, for petrification is naught but the manifestation of your sins, and thus requires sentience, as is pointed out in the 4. Chronicle of Yreir. Take your tales back to the filthy primitives in the marshes, you lout, and get out of my sunlight."

Grand Templar Wynrold II. of the White Circle of Weldyn, to an unnamed adventurer claiming to have survived an encounter with a giant spider and a basilisk

[Reepurr]

"That is absolutely ridiculous. Nonsense! Beasts can not be petrified, for petrification is naught but the manifestation of your sins, and thus requires sentience, as is pointed out in the 4. Chronicle of Yreir. Take your tales back to the filthy primitives in the marshes, you lout, and get out of my sunlight."

Grand Templar Wynrold II. of the White Circle of Weldyn, to an unnamed adventurer claiming to have survived an encounter with a giant spider and a basilisk

Not immediately obvious who's petrified there. The spider or the highwayman?

[Radament]

That is to keep you reading until the very end

And, technically, highwaymen aren't beasts

[Reepurr]

I'll give this one more week before making a decision, so if anyone else wants to post, go for it!

It's been longer than a week now...

[Doc Paterson]

After much deliberation, I've reached a decision, and let me say, it was very difficult. Props to all of you guys for the great entries. I've decided to go with Matherton's entry for the giant spider, and a slightly edited version of UK1's highwayman entry (the part about the +25% was hilarious, but I don't think I should include it. )

There may be another statue or two added in the future, and I think we should definitely do this again.

[Reepurr]

Congratulations! [applauds]

[Matherton]

Hooray! Thanks!

[Insinuator]

Yeah, I liked Matherton's entry too. Felt like a Chinese proverb story.

[UK1]

After much deliberation, I've reached a decision, and let me say, it was very difficult. Props to all of you guys for the great entries. I've decided to go with a slightly edited version of UK1's highwayman entry (the part about the +25% was hilarious, but I don't think I should include it. )

Comedy :1
Drama :0

Thanks