The Untroduction
Sadly, we must begin our tale with a cottage. If we did not have a cottage, then we would have no story...and a story is what we want. And so, the cottage...
Inside the small cottage was a large wooden desk. This desk held many pieces of parchment, several quills and pots of ink and a worn brass candlestick holding the remains of a once tall candlestick. However, even though these effects were prominent, the main feature of the desk was the head of a large creature which slumbered deeply, emitting loud snores.
The creature looked...well...old. The wrinkled face and long white beard clearly showed this, however these were just masks covering the mind of a teenager trapped in an old man's body.
A banging on the wooden door of the cottage woke the creature, which lazily opened its eyes and mumbled incoherently. Eventually, the words began to make sense.
"Go 'way, 'm tryin' to sleep!"
Of course, the banging continued, somewhat louder, and the creature rose from the desk, revealing its humanoid body. Making its way through the cramped cottage, the human stumbled to the door, muttering under its breath about the 'annoying youth of today.'
Opening the door, the human found that there was no one there. Stepping out onto the mat outside the door, it craned its neck from side to side looking for the culprit. Seeing an empty street, it took another quick glance to the left, which resulted in a loud CRACK. The creature doubled over in pain before straightening up and rubbing its neck.
Slowly tilting its head to stretch the sore muscles in his neck, it saw a nicely painted sign hanging above the door. 'KingRyan, Archivist' it said. However, on a much less decorated piece of wood underneath, the words 'Since beta' had been hastily painted.
Continuing to stretch his neck, KingRyan noticed a white piece of paper on the ground a few metres from his house. Hobbling over to it (his legs were sore from overuse so early in the afternoon) and bent awkwardly down to pick it up. Turning it over, KingRyan saw the following page:
KingRyan's first thought was this: 'Typical spammers.' Then he noticed the writing behind the graffiti. Walking back into his cottage, KingRyan muttered incoherently to himself about the unrespecting youth of today's society. Sitting at his desk, he picked up an object that that was a triangular blade with only one sharp edge and a wooden handle covering one of the points.
Holding the strange object in one hand he held the flyer steady on the desk. Then, in short, smooth motions he rubbed it along the paper. Little black flakes of dried ink began to appear on the end of the tool. After many repeated strokes, KingRyan brushed off the tool and put it back in its place on the desk. The flyer now held no graffiti, however the ink scraper had worked slightly too well.
Looking at the flyer, KingRyan couldn't make head nor tail of it. Taking out another piece of parchment and his trusty quill, he began to scribble down what he could read:
~~~~~~~
ArmorGames Wants YOU
H ou always wished that u serve the city of ArmorGames?
H u always ondered i s like b of the hallowed Moderators ?
Do u think ye ve w t it k to b Moderator?
If so, then s u a a s morC ,
The Way of Moderatio T urna t!
Test your mettle to see if y ll become th hosen e;
Welcome and Induction Ce uon, e held h August, 2009
This annoucement sanction rator Carlie and the ArmorGames Moderators
~~~~~~~
'What....the....chickens?' muttered KingRyan, looking at the indecipherable letters, 'What on earth could this mean?'
Taking out some blue ink, he began to scribble in changes.
~~~~~~~
ArmorGames Wants YOU
How you always wished that trumpet serve the city of ArmorGames?
How you always pondered snappi was like a before of the hallowed Moderators Cheese?
Do you think yes wave awe cat bit dock as to been Moderator?
If so, then fish you in a bunka miss an ArmorCity Carlie,
The Way of Moderation Tournament!
Test your mettle to see if your pill become them chosen sue;
Welcome and Induction Cexapruon, see held with the 25th August, 2009
This annoucement sanction gatorator Carlie and the ArmorGames Moderators.
~~~~~~~
'Well this makes a lot more sense,' snorted KingRyan, and he promptly placed his head on the desk and was fast asleep.
A few hours later there was a sharp tapping and a warm glow at the window. The tapping continued until KingRyan was woken for the second time that day.
'OH COME ON! CAN'T ANYONE GET A NICE NAP NOW AND AGAIN?' he yelled.
'Kr, it's me,' came a timid reply from the window.
'Oh...sorry...err...hang on a minute I'll just open the window,' said KingRyan in a much nicer tone.
'Can't I just come in the door?' whined the voice.
'No. Absolutely not. I let you in once and you set half my books on fire. Be happy with the window,' explained KingRyan defiantly.
'But...but...but' whined the voice.
As KingRyan opened the window, the room was filled with that same warm glow. Its source was a beautiful phoenix sitting at the window, with an excited look on its face.
KingRyan began to think back to the time when he and Jess first met...he had been sitting on top of the main gate, watching the comings and goings of the city; the new timid users arriving and the old, tired users leaving - some for the last time.
Suddenly, he had noticed a strange bird up in the sky. It was quite large and had a brilliant golden-orange colour. It began to swoop down towards the gate and he was intrigued by it, he could not help being scared at the possibilities of a flamer or spammer.
The bird had perched on top of the gate next to him, where it had angled its head and looked at him with one bright eye. He had looked back with his own piercing gaze and something seemed to click between them and then...
KingRyan was broken out of his nostalgia by a squawk from Jess.
'What? Huh? Oh...sorry...' muttered KingRyan, annoyed that he had been interrupted, 'What brings you here anyway?'
'Haven't you heard? They're holding a tournament to decide who will be the next moderator! I'm just on my way to the induction at the amphitheatre, are you going to come?' gabbled Jess excitedly.
'Err...I guess I should come anyway...because I'm the archiver and all...but why hasn't anyone told me about this sooner?'
'You haven't noticed all the flyers everywhere?'
'Err...no...' lied KingRyan, subtly glancing at the flyer on his desk, 'I haven't really been outside much in the last few days....'
'Oh well, I'll see you there! BYEEE!!!!' squawked Jess enthusiastically, and with that she flew away from the window and off into the sky.
KingRyan looked slightly confused at the place where Jess had just been, then hastily grabbed his quill, ink and a recording book and set off towards the amphitheatre.
Fin.