My teacher chose some roles and narratemes at random.
The roles became:
- Villain - Dragon wizard, Bartholomew
- Helper - minor god Alaunus, [Sun, healing, prophecy]
- Dispatcher - wise man
- Hero - Princess
The Narratemes:
- Trickery
- Complicity
- Villainy and lack
- meditation
- Departure
- Acquisition
- Victory
- Resolution
- Wedding
We had to present our story by reading it out loud for the other students in class. I remember doing that with great enthusiasm and altering voices.
I will simply copy my original delivery here and perhaps over time I will improve the story and place that one also here.
---
The Stone of Regularity
Once upon a time there was a prince who set out to vanquish the evil dragon wizard Bartholomew.
Bartholomew however, cunning and wise, foresaw the arrival and decieved him.
What occured was that Bartholomew took posession of the prince to gain access to the kingdom of prosperity and steal the stone of regularity. [and -> to]
And so the prince and wizard set out and enter the kingdom victoriously.
Our princess runs to the town square and jumps into his arms.
'O beloved you have returned unscathed.' she says. 'Now we can marry and have children. Grow old together and sit by the fireplace.'
'Yes, I have returned' the prince said. 'I am weary of my travels. I wish to meditate upon the stone, and then I want to sit with you in the garden and talk.'
The prince kissed her hand and moved up the stairs into the monastary of Alaunus.
Meanwhile the townsfolk greeted our princess kindly.
As a bowing lady passed her, a strangeness occured. A man walked backwards to her.
Alien words neared her as the man came closer. Finally the man turned around and winked at her, uttering more rambling.
A young man in robes came running.
'Forgive my master milady.'
'What is wrong?'
'He has lost his mind, I am watching over him. Forgive me. He shall no longer disturb you.'
The young man took the arm of the deranged man and walked away.
As the prince entered the monastery a cleric nodded.
He guided him towards the inner sanctum where on a sunlit pedestal the stone lay.
The prince kneels before it and flames engulf him.
The cleric clearly alarmed starts chanting incantations.
The prince falls to the ground as Bartholomew extrudes himself and reaches for the stone.
A strong stroke of the dragon's wings sends the cleric smashing on marble.
'At long last, I have brought this kingdom to its knees' and he grabs the stone. A black creaking crack rages through the stone as the dragon touches it. And with a flash Bartholomew disappears.
Meanwhile our princess awaits our prince near the fountain.
'Do my eyes decieve me' she thinks 'is the water rising up into the statue?' She dowses her hand and feels the upward flowing.
Upset she runs towards the monastery when she hears a sneer.
'And a rotting day to you, milady!' A woman looks unfriendly at her.
Even more people curse at her.
Some plea for her to stay and to leave things as they are.
'It need not be repaired this state.' Others call.
Then the deranged man walks to her followed by the young man.
Only the young man walks backwards.
He winks and begins to speak.
'Your senses do not tell you what you should know.'
'What is going on, you speak normal? And why is everybody so mean?'
I always spoke normal. Only now you take heed of my warning.
Our words travel together now; we are repulsing our fates.
Abominating logic isn' t it?
They express the invert heart!
I warned you the prince was not himself. Bartholomew had enchanted him. You need to go to the grand library of living memory quickly.
We have only one chance. Take this crystal mask when you know Bartholomew' s origin you can wish upon it once and you shall appear whence and where you want.
He hands her a pouch that makes a crashing and tingling sound.
'O, I am sorry, I have dropped it some time ago. Guard it closely.'
He takes the arm of the young man and walks away.
And so our princess sets out to the library.
After a while she sets foot in a great hall where a librarian is writing intently behind his reception.
Flying quills work on floating books. She looks at one and sees the ink being sucked out by the quills.
'What is happening to the books?' The librarian looks up.
What does it look like to you; the books are undoing themselves into obliteration.
The less there is to know, the more you are able to learn is it not?
What can I help you with?
'I am looking for a book that could tell me the history of Bartholomew the dragon wizard.'
Aah it's in the lower section of B, really easy to spot.
Thank the gods; I soon will be oblivious of this nonsense, good day and good riddance to you darling.
At the B section she finds some books that where not yet empty.
Just as she reads over the words the quills erased it. She was just in time.
She took the pouch, opened it, and to her astonishment many of the shards where whole again.
She took the half crystal mask and saw the last shards jumping towards the crystal attaching them selves.
She closed her eyes and date and location appeared in mind.
A wish escaped and entered the crystal. She opened her eyes and found herself in a moist and dark cave. A hot steady pulse blew in her face as like breathing. 'What am I supposed to do?' she tought.
With hesitation the princess moved towards the heat. The cave brightened till a corridor. She peeked and saw a gigantic dragon sleeping around a large egg. Courage escaped her.
Just as she wanted to ran, a shimmer brushed the corridor.
'Don' t be afraid' the mask in her hand spoke.
'Throw me instead and my light shall quench this coming evil.'
'Who are you?'
'You know me as Alaunus, but come now, I haven't got all day!'
Carefully she walked near enough to the egg. The princess pauses, takes a deep breath and then throws the mask. The mask, now red-hot, brightened and broke through the egg.
The mother awakened looked straight into her eyes and when a ball of fire embraced her, she found herself at the town square.
Next to her stood the deranged man and he winked at her.
The prince came riding in. He ran towards her and swirled her around and kissed.
'I vanquished the evil giant' He said 'the kingdom is save'.
In her min she spoke the words: 'The kindom is saved.'
A month later she found herself walking down the aisle with her handsome prince.
And happily, they ever lived.
