Otherworld

[Windlord]

This is part of a Novel that I've begun working on. Just thought I would submit an Excerpt from it here to see what you all think of it.

To give some background to were this is at, this novel takes place in the Otherworld, a Concept from Celtic Mythology. The Hero, John O'Connor, finds himself transported to Otherworld when he falls into a Sidhe Mound while wearing a Magical Bracer that has the word "gatekeeper" written on it in Ogham. He arrives just in time to aid the Tuatha De Danaan, Milesians, and Firbolgs repel the first wave of the Evil Fomorii, who have returned from their exile when they were defeated previously by Lugh. John is now on his way to Tara Hill, with one of the Tuatha De Danaan named Coriana to give the warning that the Fomorii have returned.




John stopped walking and looked down into the forested vale. His legs ached, and his whole body was sore, doubtless from three days of nonstop hiking through this wilderness. Coriana turned and looked at him.
“We don’t have time to stop John; we have to make it through this vale as quickly as possible.” She said sympathetically. “I know your body aches because you don’t have any experience with cross-country travel, but stopping now is not an option. We need to double our pace.”
“Double!” John groaned. “Why? This place seems pleasant enough. Other than the clouds moving in from the east, I don’t think this place could be any better. Why do we have to move faster? This seems like the perfect time for a slower pace after our long trek through the hills behind us.”
“There are two good reasons why. One reason is that the firbolg trade route runs through here, and they aren’t exactly fond of my kind. The other reason is because we really don’t want to be caught in a storm here, although it may already be too late for that.” She said as she pointed at the clouds moving in from the east. “This place is called storming-vale for a reason. It’s not uncommon for hailstones the size of my fist to rain down here two or three times a week.”
John gulped and nodded. Then he took up his walk once more, following Coriana closely as they moved down the grey hillside into the forested vale. He took one more nervous glance up at the clouds that were moving closer before plunging into the twilight world of the forest.


John shivered in the cold; the temperature had dropped quite sharply in the chill rain. He trudged on through the soggy pine needles, wet with the rain that fell through the branches above. He flinched at the sound of a crack of thunder. Then Coriana held out her hand, bringing him to a stop. She turned and looked to the east.
“Do you hear that?” She asked, her voice as tight as a taunt bow-string.
John strained his ears. At first he could hear nothing through the sounds of the rainstorm, but then he started to notice something. “Yes, a light hissing sound? What is that?”
“Hail.” Coriana answered as she gritted her teeth. “We have to move, now! We have to find shelter soon; we can’t be out in this storm for long.”
Coriana redoubled her pace, and for once, John didn’t complain. They were moving through the forest quickly now. John was looking down at the ground to make sure he didn’t trip on any roots. Then, to John’s surprise he heard Coriana give a sigh of relief, her whole body seemed to relax from the stress. He looked up questioningly and noticed a large red X painted on one of the trees in front of them. He looked at Coriana for an explanation.
“It means there is shelter near. There should be a clearing and a small tower within half a mile of here. If we run, we can make it there in a few minutes.” She said with a smile of satisfaction as she bent over slightly and started to run forward. John shouldered his backpack to even out the weight more, and then quickened his pace to a hard jog.

 

[Windlord]

John shivered in the cold; the temperature had dropped quite sharply in the chill rain. He trudged on through the soggy pine needles, wet with the rain that fell through the branches above. He flinched at the sound of a crack of thunder. Then Coriana held out her hand, bringing him to a stop. She turned and looked to the east.
“Do you hear that?” She asked, her voice as tight as a taunt bow-string.
John strained his ears. At first he could hear nothing through the sounds of the rainstorm, but then he started to notice something. “Yes, a light hissing sound? What is that?”
“Hail.” Coriana answered as she gritted her teeth. “We have to move, now! We have to find shelter soon; we can’t be out in this storm for long.”
Coriana redoubled her pace, and for once, John didn’t complain. They were moving through the forest quickly now. John was looking down at the ground to make sure he didn’t trip on any roots. Then, to John’s surprise he heard Coriana give a sigh of relief, her whole body seemed to relax from the stress. He looked up questioningly and noticed a large red X painted on one of the trees in front of them. He looked at Coriana for an explanation.
“It means there is shelter near. There should be a clearing and a small tower within half a mile of here. If we run, we can make it there in a few minutes.” She said with a smile of satisfaction as she bent over slightly and started to run forward. John shouldered his backpack to even out the weight more, and then quickened his pace to a hard jog.
Within a few moments, they burst out of the forest into a large clearing. John felt the wind tear at his clothing, out here in the clearing there was no protection from it like back in the sheltered forest. In the center of the clearing there rose a soaring tower fashioned of stone. John gawked at it. It was the largest stone structure he had ever seen. He awe-stricken gaze was interrupted by a sharp zing, followed by a dull thud. He looked over to his left and saw a small white stone on the ground that looked like it was made from crystal. The hail had started to fall.
“Come on John, we have to run for it” Coriana yelled over the howling wind as she burst into a full sprint.
John thrust forward, dashing up the hill, hailstones falling around him. John had made it about half way to the tower when suddenly he let out a great cry and fell to the ground. He grabbed at his right shoulder as pain shot through it. A large hailstone with a red smear lay on the ground next to him, laced with green thread. John could feel a large gaping hole in his tunic, and raw torn skin and flesh underneath. Blood was running down his arm. He looked up; Coriana had turned and was coming back.
“Get up; we have to get inside now!” She screamed at him as she grabbed his arm and started to drag him to his feet. With her help he jolted up and started to run again. Out of the corner of his eye he barely noticed a blurred figure running up the hill towards the tower as well. He looked up ahead; Coriana was almost to the tower now, heading straight for a massive arched doorway. She raced up and grabbed one of the doors, pulling it open with a groan and darted inside. A few seconds later John followed, leaving behind the hailstorm. John gasped for breath as he started to look around. Then he turned as he heard the squealing sound of protest from the door hinges.
“No wait.” He said as Coriana started to close the door. “I saw something else out there.”
Coriana nodded and stopped closing the door, although her face betrayed a harsh grimness, she was clearly not happy.
“Whatever you do, don’t tell it I’m a Danaanite.” She said to John. “It is probably a firbolg traveler. If it is, then it would only cause us trouble if it knew that I was of the Danaan people. It might guess anyway, but for our own sake, don’t tell it. Now, let me look at your shoulder as soon as I light this torch.”
John was seated on the floor with Coriana smearing some sort of ointment on his shoulder as he started to view his surroundings. They were in a small room, the portal to the rest of the tower he guessed. The walls were mostly barren, except for the few remains of peeling paint from a by-gone age, colored with deep greens and blues. The floor was littered with dust, although there were countless prints from other travelers through the ages. A small blackened smear on the floor puzzled John at first, but when he saw the piles of firewood in one of the corners he understood. But the most striking features were the three massive stone doors, each decorated with aquatic themes, though the images were faded with time. His curiosity was interrupted by the sound of boots thudding on the stone floor as the stranger he had seen running towards the tower burst inside, closing the door behind him.
Before John stood a short and stocky man, his face was rough and very hairy, although the friendly look on his face belied his coarse figure. He was dressed in thick leather armor set with large metal studs that gleamed in the torch-light. Strapped to his left arm was a metal shield, and he carried both an axe and a short sword in his belt. John looked over at Coriana. She seemed calm, although he could tell she wasn’t, and her knuckles betrayed her true feelings, white with pressure as she gripped her staff in both hands. John laid a hand on his wooden club. He really hoped that they wouldn’t get in a fight.

 

[thenewageriseth]

That was interesting. This story sounds like it takes place in a um Medieval type era? Probably.
And sounds like Fantasy too. What is the Otherworld? Is it...a parallel universe?

 

[Windlord]

That was interesting. This story sounds like it takes place in a um Medieval type era? Probably.
And sounds like Fantasy too. What is the Otherworld? Is it...a parallel universe?

Kind of. It is the closest thing to an afterlife within Celtic Mythology, although it isn't quite Parallel, since people don't have alternate realities of themselves in otherworld, it is were they go when they die. And then they live there, and come back here when they die. Kind of like reincarnation, but with two universes, not just one.

Of course, in my story the reincarnation concept doesn't come into play very much, since I don't actually believe in reincarnation and my story is still fiction.

 

[thenewageriseth]

Kind of. It is the closest thing to an afterlife within Celtic Mythology, although it isn't quite Parallel, since people don't have alternate realities of themselves in otherworld, it is were they go when they die. And then they live there, and come back here when they die. Kind of like reincarnation, but with two universes, not just one.

Of course, in my story the reincarnation concept doesn't come into play very much, since I don't actually believe in reincarnation and my story is still fiction.

Aww Too bad, I believe in reincarnation, myself. i have heard from various guests on this nightly show called Coast2Coast, that when ppl reincarnate, they come back to perfect themselves...and I might just wanna do that... Cool story though.

 

[Tariel]

It's pretty good

I have a special liking for Otherworld stories...even though i haven't found anything yet that can compare with this series I read last summer...my favorite books ever...I mean it

 

[puttytat190]

What 's the series i might enjoy it ...If they have it at a local library I could check it out.