[Creative Contest] Ragnarok's Got Talent!

Part 1: Side First

Panting heavily as the little girl sprinted ever deeper towards the forest.  Her heavy boots loudly stomping on the forest floor as she ran. Her long silky blue hair swayed with beads of sweat reflecting the slowly disappearing sunlight

The light green scenery has now become dark as the canopy grew ever higher blocking the sunlight.

“Someone help me!!!” as the little girl shouted with all her strength pleading for help.

I’ve seen countless of her kind on my long life in this forest, our different societies synonymous to war as we’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember.

More like even before my parents’ parents were given birth we’re already at war. That’s how long it is going.

“Standing as a lookout on the border of goblin territory sure is boring” I said as I stretched preparing for combat, got my trusty <Axe> and <Round Shield> I looked at the incoming trouble.

A party of goblins has been chasing <her> probably even before I saw them. We may be at war but truth is…

I charged at the axe goblin as soon as they got close enough hurling my <Axe> at it. It was able to parry it but the difference in power proved obvious as it was knocked backed.

“You are in <Our> territory, further chase and I will retaliate” I warned them as I posed as provokingly as I could.

“Kuu—.” a hammer goblin hurled its weapon to the ground and angrily retreated.

With them out of sight I looked at the little girl now collapsed on the ground.

“Uhmm..” She was murmuring something inaudible.

I know having her being rescued by a sworn enemy is all the more shocking. I made a deep breath and grabbed her by the collar on the back of her head like a cat.

“K—kyaa! Please d-don’t eat me!!!” she shrieked in terror as I lifted her up. “I don’t taste good at all!” *nod* she added.

She really shriveled like some cat; shaking even.

“Just what are you doing in the middle of the forest alone missy?”

Of course my voice is rough in proportion to my build.

It will be pretty darn weird if it ever wasn’t.

“Hnnn”

As expected she still can’t talk.

“You know this is enemy territory why are you even here?”

“I-I don’t know…” she had tears on her eyes as she forced herself to talk.

The truth is I don’t care about the war at all. I’ve lost a lot of my mates, seen enemies die one after another but none of it seemed to have any purpose at all. Just killing one another…

“Uhmm!” she straightened herself albeit still hanging from my hand. “Thank you for saving me!”

I did a light smile to the girl “No problem”

“Hnnkya b-but p-please d-don’t eat me!!” Ah.. She curled up again.

Little did I know that this mark the end of my peaceful days.

Part 2: Side Second

The birds’ humming can be heard outside, from the gaps on the window bright light poured in from the early morning sun.

“Hnnnyaa~!!!” On my tip-toe I struggle to reach the pot hanging from the wall. Why are the things here so unnecessarily high up anyway!?

As I was struggling to reach the pot I heard the door creak and from the other side came a huge silhouette darkened by opposing the pouring sunshine.

“Ah!” The huge silhouette spoke with a rough voice befitting his size. “So you’re awake already? Here I’ve brought breakfast” he said so as he tossed a bag full of apple into the crudely made wooden table.

“Hnn!? W-welcome hooome!” I greeted him with a smile then turned my attention back to reaching it. By the way, I am his prisoner.

“Why are you still even here anyway!?”

Or so we’ve told the other citizen of this village.

“I don’t know where to go anyway…”

“Haa!? Did getting chased by goblins give you amnesia or something!?”

“Awawaa…” I hid my face with the pot I painstakingly reached in response to his rising voice. “I seriously don’t k-know! G-give me two-three more days!” I said as I gestured with my fingers.

“Haaaaa… I can’t believe you actually forgot both your name and where you live.” He put his palm on his face in dismay.

“Ahaha..” I laughed wryly.

Setting aside the pot for later use, we ate the apples he brought back from early morning hunt. Apparently our villages are at war for a long time so he had to tell the village I’m his prisoner and forbid me from recklessly going outside.

“Later…” He broke the awkward silence, “I’ll be on patrol till evening, don’t go around the town as you please; or much better just leave already.”

“I-I c-can’t do that!”

I really don’t know about myself, before I knew it I was in a forest and was later chased by those goblins and the rest is history.

“I don’t have anywhere to go…” I simply looked down.

Staring at me, he placed his huge hand on top of my head, “Alright already don’t be down I’ll give you three more days.” He sighed before standing up taking his <Axe> and <Round Shield> with him.

“Hmh! Thanks Sir Softy” I nodded.

“Don’t push it brat.”

Part 3: A Third Person View

Evening came to the village within the forest. She was still alone because the guy hasn’t come back yet. Technically she was alone until…;

The door was instantly smashed by a strong kick from an incoming silhouette.

“Eeekkk…!!!!”

Shocked at the sudden entry, she ran to the corner of the room after grabbing her short sword. “W-who are you!!?”

“Such as a disrespectful prisoner, not even knowing who her keeper’s boss is” He grinned as he drew a short sword from his waist. He has a yellow rectangular shield, an absurdly huge helm and he was walking towards the little girl now cowering in fear for her puny life.

He then pointed his other hand, the one carrying the shield, to himself, “It is I! Orc Hero!”

She froze at his statement, <he> once told him of someone whom she should never encounter, the leader of the tribe, he whom no other Orcs can oppose, guarded by the distinguished High Orcs, the Orc Hero.

He, by the way, was an Orc whom despite the difference in race, he still saved her anyway.

“D-d-don’t come near me!!!” fearing for her life he threw her short sword towards it and ran outside which was instantly proven futile as neither worked; the sword got parried and she was cornered by a lot of High Orcs.

“I’ve decided, tonight….” The Orc Hero licked his lip in anticipation, “You will satisfy me!”

She was frozen in place, scared to her wits, no one to save her.

“High Orcs capture her, let the finest cook prepare me a feast for tonight shall be glorious!” he raised his short sword signaling them to charge at the puny little girl.

“Yaaaaa!!!” she crouched and closed her eyes having nowhere to go.

Sparks flew shortly after, as she opened her eyes, <He> was there. He halted the charge by hurling his <Axe> a full 360 degrees.

“DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH MY PRISONEEEEEEEEEER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

He shouted with all his might, positioned his shield and slashed his <Axe> diagonally as strong as he could towards the High Orc in front of him, it was parried but the immense kinetic energy far surpassed the shield’s durability slashing through the High Orc like a sharpened sledgehammer.

“NOW YOU’VE DONE IT BOOORUBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!” angered at his action the Orc Hero raised his sword then shouted,

“Thunderstoooooooormmm!!!”

“Mister!!!” Understanding what inevitable will happen shortly she shouted!

“Get down you brat!” Boruba, the orc who saved her, merely commanded.

A huge explosion rocked the whole area the instant the lightning fell down from the heavens. Flames arose from the burnt grass and huts. The intensity of the explosion was immediately apparent….

“W-what happened…?” Boruba, astounded gulped and looked at the little girl behind her.

The Orc Hero lay unconscious, the High Orcs were burnt to crisp and the Orc Warriors watching were blown away. What was left was the two.

“I remember now…” She looked up at the sky, spiritual powers were obviously overflowing from her body. A ghastly aura even surrounded her small figure.

“You must be kidding me….” Unable to believe Boruba can only gasp for breath “You are—!?“

“Egnigem Cenia…” she bit her lips “It seems I was summoned by someone but was incomplete and still somehow survived”

Boruba can only remain silent. He couldn’t gather the words needed.

She kneeled to the ground, covered her face with her pair of little hands, “I don’t want this… Why am I…”

“Brat..”

“Why should I be me!?” She understood, painfully understood that being a Boss-class entity involves a bloodstained life. “I could’ve been anyone… Hey, Boruba…” She then looked at him with tears on her eyes, she asks “Why?”

“Haaa… What a pain…” He smiled and stood up, placing his palm on his face. “Such a troublesome person you are you lil’ brat”

“Eh…” She stared blankly this time.

“I’m tired of this circle of killing anyway” Boruba, with his massive figure, placed his hand on top of her small head.

She held it with both her hands in response. “…”

“Let’s go to an adventure” He, once more, shifted his hands to her collar and picked her up.

“Boruba…!”

“It won’t be easy. I will need your help. You must come with me!”

Giving her the way to a more peaceful life she smiled and answered, “Yes! Let’s go!”

“Good” He grinned back.

He put her down, patted her head once more and started to walk out of the destroyed village. Beside her was the summoned Egnigem, her hair albeit stained by dirt and blood swayed gracefully as the sunset shines at the two.

“You will be my pet when on town by the way” she added while grinning, holding the huge Orc’s arm.

“What!?”

-End-

 

... it's time for the ultimate fan competition...

 

...

 

Show off ... your love for Ragnarok Online ...

 

 

 

...

...

 

WRITING

Includes: Short stories (must be between 100 and 1500 words, no less and no more), poetry

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

Grand Prizes will be awarded to the 4 winners of each category (Best Execution, Most Unique Concept, Most Hilarious, Judge Favorite).

Each qualifying entry will receive a participation prize.

 

More information on prizes to come soon!

 

This is an opportunity for both players and staff to show some enthusiasm, as you say to "show your love"...  It's now Day#16 of a 32-day contest and I can't exactly say this thread is stacked with staff affection (you posted this on a Friday and seem to have only checked up on it on the one Monday back).

- Questions regarding picture aspect ratios/size have been left hanging since the very beginning.

- The only encouragements are two posts from players.

- And most importantly to me we've still as yet no word of prizes, grand or participation, a previous post on this has been left for more than a week.  If you've never run a competition before let me tell you this is really really important as it lets potential punters gauge how much effort this might be worth, if at all.  Ideally, this is decided before the event goes live and is even added to as interest ramps up.

+Credit to the first post; it looks reasonable enough but after that... staff time in this thread probably totals sub ten minutes and I appreciate that that is entirely speculative.

Looking forward to hearing the corporate response.