01 Mythcraft

Far north across the globe lays a small island untouched by modern man. It was divided by six governments each representing their own race: the orcs, humans, gremlins, hopplekins, reptoids and goblins. However one hopplekin called Grunfle had achieved what no other race had done before. This is his story.

The sun sank into the night as the moon lead its shadow over the island. The mountains in the hopplekin lands lit up as all the houses on the side of it were silent. Grunfle walked out of his porthole of a door. Now, like all hopplekins he had protruding lips, was the height of a toddler, hairy all over, had large blue eyes and always wore a robe and tall pointy hat.

He walked across the wooden walkway with his mouth sunk into his robe; he huddled to an open building with a big sign saying "Hubble's Dozer. As he walked in the door's bell softly tinged. People lay on feather filled bags, smoking pipes. Grunfle walked up to the shopkeeper.

'Err¦ Hubble could I have a smoke,' Grunfle said.
'Sure, large pipe or small,' Hubble replied.
'Whatever,' Grunfle shrugged.

Hubble passed him a large wooden pipe and poured in some red flakes. Now tobacco didn't exist on the island, so they smoked scrunched up sweet-cumber. Grunfle stuck a flame down the bottom of the pipe, as he puffed, a thin stream of sweet smoke withered in the air. He wandered off until he found his friends at a table, scoffing scones.

'Hey, save me one,' he shouted.
Eqin paused and muffled with his mouth full, 'Only if you do that magic trick.'
'But do I have to' Grunfle sighed.
'Yep', said Sanene.

Grunfle grunted, he blew some smoke then focused on it. An eerie floating feeling surrounded his mates. The smoke rolled up into a ball before flashing into a murky grey phoenix chick. It let out a shriek before fading into a wisp. He quickly snatched scone and gorged upon it.

'The tastes better than sweet-cumber,' Grunfle drooled.
Tolrik whispered, 'Really, if you find the scones better, can I have your pipe?'
'Nope, still smoking on it,' Grunfle replied.

The four of them, lulled back into their feather bags, until Sanene said, 'Well, I heard our last warrior went travelling.'
'I know, if only we were great warriors. We could travel the island,' Tolrik said, gazing.
'I've seen ya fight trolls before Tolrik,' Eqin butted in.
'But I can't travel alone, the warrior had a mage and two alchemists,' Tolrik said.
'Hey don't forget me, I'm a mage and Eqin and Sanene their alchemists,' Grunfle said.
'Why don't we travel the island like heroes,' he adds, excitedly.

Everyone twiddled their thumbs, imagining what it would be like being a legend.

'So we'll meet tomorrow at five o'clock sharp, to get supplies. And we'll plan to leave at six,' Grunfle said.

Everyone nodded and left the Dozer, awaiting their thrilling adventure.